DUKE 

UNIVERSITY 

LIBRARY 

treasure  %oom 

THE 

FORESTERS, 

AN 

AMERICAN  TALE: 

BEING      A 

SEQUEL   to  the  HISTORY 

O  F 

.JOHN  BULL  the  CLOTHIER. 


In  a  Series  of  Letters  to  a  Friend. 



Jpu&fttj&icfc   McortiM  to   22  of  Cciigreftf. 


The  SECOND  EDITION, 

REVISED    AND    CONSIDERABLY     ENLARGED. 


PRINTED    at    BO  ST  OX, 

by  I.  THOMAS  and  E.  T.  AND^EVVS, 

[Proprietors  of  the  Work.]* 

5>'.i  Uy  than,  y.  wi  ite,  r.  ■  .  in  BoRon  ;  bf 

mas,  in  Woi  C 

re  ,  arid  by 

•  uy. AVt'.  i7</0. 


T, 
CONTENTS. 


LETTER     I.         Page  ii. 

ORIGINAL  Siate  of  the  Forefl.—The  Adven- 
tures of  Walter  Fipeweld  and  Cecilius 
Peterson. 

LETTER     IT.         Page  23. 

Sichnefs  and  Delirium  of  Mr.  Bull'j-  Mother. — 
Adventures  of   Peregrine    Tickle. — John 

CODLINE. HlJMPH-RY         pLOUG  :?S  H  A  P.  K. 

Roger  Carrier, /z^/Thecp.hilus  Wheat- 
ear. 

LETTER    III.         Page  36. 

John  Codline  quarrels  with  Roger  Cap-RHR,. 
and  turns  him  cut  of  Doors. — Carrier  retlrt 
to  another  Part  of  the  Forejl. — C  online  furveys 
bis  Land ;  takes  Robert  Lumber  under  his 
Protection. — Begins  a  Suit  with  the  Fijhermen  of 
Lewis,  which,  ivith  other  Incidents,  excites  the 
Jealoufy  of  Mr,  Bull. 

LETTER. 


284890 


Jv  CONTENT 


LETTER     IV.         Tage  49. 

Attempt  of  Nicholas  Frog  and  Gust avu s  the 

Ironmongery  to   intrude  into   the  Forejl. — Their 

■><!. — Afr.BttLL*3  Sirlnefs and 'Delirium, — 

His  Policy  in  paying  his   Debts, — His  Quarrel 

with  Frog,  audits  Termination  by  Cempromi/e~ 
— Plantation  of  Cart-rut  and  Bare-clay? 
ceded  Ca:sarea. — Life  to  Charles  Indigo. 

LETTER    V.         Page  £3; 

Mr.  Lull'j  Projed  of  taming  tsuld  Animals* — Its 
Execution  by  his   Tenants. — Their   different  AV 

tiotts  and  Conduct  in  this  Matl-tr. 

LETTER     VI.         Page  76. 

Adventures  of  Charles  Indigo  and  Peter 
Pitch. — Clarailer  of  William  Broadbrim. 
— His  Projects,  Principles)  and  a  Specimen  of  his 
Harangues* 

LETTER     VII.         Page  89. 

Diffenjions  in  BroadbrimV    Family. — His  Aver- 
/ion    to  Fire  Arms,   end  its  Confluence.      Air. 
Bull's  fecond  Sickncf,  and 'frond  Marriage. — 
I  lis  Project  for  making  a  new  Plantation. — Th 
Care  of  it  committed  to  George    Trusty.— 

Trout 


CONTENTS.  r 

Trout    Ffhery  ejlablijhed  at  the  Plantation \  of 
Alexander  Scotus. 

LETTER     VIII-         Page  101. 

Mr.  Bull'/  Quarrel  and  Lait'-Suit  nvilh  Lewis 
and  Lord  Strut. — He  gains  Pojfefion  of  tlx 
whole  Forejl, 

LETTER     IX.         Psge  1 1 i. 

Mr.  Bull  gets  into  Debt,  and  ly  the  Advice  of  bit 

nc-ju  IVife  and  her  gambling   Companions ,  Lglus 
a  Quarrel  ivith  his  Tenants. 

LETTER     X.         Page  122. 

Mr.  Bull  attempts  a  neiv  Mode  of  Traps,  <vjh:ch 
difgufla  his   Tcnan'.s. — They  refufe  to  re:  \ 
Prcjl  n's. — His  Jin-  ular  Rifr.tment  again]}  J  o  H  H 
Codline,  and  the  Effects  which  it  produetd. 

LETTER    XI.        P^gcij:. 

The  Quarrel  begins  in  carnefl,  and  is  carried  info  the 
Lava. — Conducl  of  tin  Manager*  on  both  Sides, 
— The  frfl  Verdi 8  in  Favour  of  the  Fore/hrs 
ghen  at  Saratoga  HalL 

LETTER 


284890 


*i  CONTENTS. 

LETTER    XII.         Page  144- 

The  Foreflers  apply  for  Help  to  Mr.  Lewis — af& 
Jiijl  treated  with  E'saf.rm — afterward  obtain  their 

JicqveJ}. — Alarm  in  Mr.  Bull';  FamUy. — His 
Conference  ivithhis  Wife. — Her  Manauvres  upon 
the  Oc-:afion. — Difappo'mted  iy  the  bjlexibil'Uy  of 
the  Forejlers. 

LETTER     XIIL        Page  155. 

Mr:.  Bull'x  Rage,  and  its  FffecJ  en  the  NeigB* 
hours, — Several  Families  ajfeciate  to  defend  thdr 
Right  to  the  High  Way. — Quarrel  opens  with 
Lord  Strut  and  Air.  Frog. — The  Foreflers 
profecuts  their  Ccntroverjy,  and  obtain  a  fecond 
Verdid, — Mr,  Bull'j-  real  Friends  inierpefe, 
and  convince  his  Wife  of  her  Error. — She  advife's 
him  to  comprcmife  the  Matter, — Hejigns  a  Quit- 
Claim  of  the  Forejl, 

LETTER    XIV.        Page  169. 

The  Forejlcrs  form  a  Partner/hip. — //  proves  defi- 
cient and  inejfeclual. — Their  Clock  out  of  Order. 
— Their  Strong  Box  empty.- — Diflurlances  in 
feme  of  the  Families. — A  Meeting  is  called  ta 
rivife  and  amend  the  Partncrjhip, 

LETTER 


CONTENTS.  -wli 


LETTER     XV.         Pag?  179. 

'M  new  Plan  of  Partnership  is  propofed. — Argri- 
ments  pro  and  con. — It  is  efla&Tt/bed. — A  Chief 
Steward  appointed,  ivlth  inferior  Officers. — Hunt- 
ing too  much  in  Fajljion. — A  new  Species  of  Rats 
Introduced. — Two  Families  added  to  the  Number 
of  Partners. 

LETTER     XVI.         Page  195. 

Trefenl   State   of  Mr.    Bull— His    Wife   and  his 
Mother. — Story  of  the  everla  fling   Taper. — Some 
Account   of  Mr.  Lewis. — His    new    Wtfi 
cajl  off Mijlrefs. — Conchdion. 

LETTER     XVII.         Page  X06. 

Jealoufy  between  Lewi?  and  h'/s  new  Wife. — Hi: 
Divorce  and  Fxpul/ion. — Bull's  C holer  a 
the  Family. — Their  AJfxtmption  of  a  new  I 
The  Franks. —  Their  Con! rover fy  with  B:dU 
and  the  Defection  of  his  Friends. — Whims,  Proj- 
ects and  Innovation!  of  the  Franks. — Remarks 
en  the  Plan  of  Fraternization. 

LETTER     XVIII.         Page  no. 

fiijfivi  of  Ten eg  from  the  Franks  to  the  Fc 

— Defcriptwn   of  Mother    Carey's    Chickens.— 


*iu  CONTENTS. 

Baft*  Jcaloufy  end  Cholcr. — Prudence  of  lift 
Fort/hrt,  and  its  Sujcefs. — Impudent  Attempt  cf 
the  Ciieknt,  an  i  Us  Defeat.— Bull's  Meffage  to, 
Cang-hit  and  bit  fententiow  Anfwer. — P 
Difpofithm  of  the  Wild  Drafts. — Agreement  wki 
the   IJbmaewct    and   Lara    Strut.— -Increaji  of 


CLAVIS  ALLEGORICA. 


JOHN  BULL, 

— His  Mother, 

—His  WlKK, 

— His  Sis  i  kr  Tr.G, 

— His-Brother  Patrick, 

Leu  is, 

--  Ho  MXVTBXJU, 

—His  N  >;  i*  Wi  y  fe , 

Lord  Strut, 

Nicholas  Frog, 

Gvstavus, 

Madam  Kate, 

Leopold, 

Frederick, 

Ferdinand, 

Canc-hi, 

The  Frank?, 

')"■■  ■     I  OS  i 

Ai  kxander  Scorers, 

O.VONTKl, 

Roeert  Lvism?, 

J  iHN   CODl  INK 

Peregrine  PicI 
ThEUPHILUS  W||  vat-ear, 
HUM  FUR  V  PLOUOH9HAft£j 

Carrier, 
i  »   buil-frog, 

AR, 
.  aodBARE-CLAl", 


■irliamtni. 
Th>  CJurch  *f  Scotland. 

77.;    Oiu iConfituHiH. 
The   National  R-p>  - 
Ti     A  irrgt/t  m  r,f  Spain. 
rtn  t£t  '■  R-publu. 

Tie  Empire  of  Rufiic. 
'The  Er.pire  cf  Germany, 
'The  Rrvjfian  JUon.- 

TI  r  Empire  of  Clin.z. 

TI'  Fr*r.:h  R  / 

The  United 6: a;-  ■  t,j  Atneru2. 

j\TiVa  t 

Canada. 

J\YtX'    /.'  v 

TJ>>  Old  I 
The  Old 

md  and  J  r 

Cart 

W 1 1 


eiJFIS   ALlf.C0m C J, 


William  Broadbrim, 
•■  ■    ■         Casimir, 
Cecilius  Martgolo, 
Walter  Piteweed, 
■ — His  Grandson, 
Peter  Pitch, 
Charles  Indigo, 
George  Trusty, 
Augustine, 
Ethan  Greenwood, 
Hunter  Longknife, 
Highwaymen, 
Hounds  and  Huntsmen, 
Bears  and  Wolves, 
Black  Cattle, 
Rats, 

Mother  Carey's  Chick- 
ens, 
Ordure, 


Od 


'LQ^'Ujk 


Pennfylvanie, 

Delaware. 

SVfaryland. 

Virginia. 

GEORGE  Jr^SHIXGTON. 

"North  Carolina. 

South  Carolina. 

Georgia. 

Florida. 

Vermont. 

Kentucky. 

Pirates  and  Privateers. 

Ships  of  War  and  Troops. 

Indians.  . 

Negro  Slaves. 

Speculators. 

'Jacobins. 

Convicts, 


7) 


*i 


//* 


cyy^ 


/j,1SU* 


THE 

FORESTERS. 
Letter  L 

'Original  Slate  of  the  Foreft. — The  Adven- 
tures of  Walter  Pipe  weed  and  Ce- 
cilius  Peterson. 

dear  sir, 

X  O  perform  the  promife  which  I 
made  to  you  before  I  began  my  journey,  I 
will  give  you  fuch  an  account  of  this, 
once  foreft,  but  now  cultivated  and  pleaf- 
ant  country,  as  I  can  collect  from  my  con- 
versation with  its  inhabitants,  and  from 
the  perufal  of  their  old  family  papers, 
B  2  which 


It  THE     FORESTERS. 

which  they  have  kindly  permitted  me  to 
look  into  for  my  entertainment.  By  thefe 
means  I  have  acquainted  myfelf  with  the 
itory  of  their  firft  planting,  confequent 
improvements,  and  prefent  itate  ;  the  re- 
cital of  which  will  occupy  the  hours  which 
I  fhall  be  able  to  fpare  from  bufinefs,  com- 
pany and  deep,  during  my  refidence  among 
them. 

In  reading  the  character  of  John  Bul!> 
which  was  committed  to  paper  fome  years 
ago  by  one  who  knew  him  well,  you  mult 
have  obferved,  that  though  "  he  was  in 
the  main  an  honeft,  plain  dealing  fellow, 
yet  he  was  choleric  and  inconitant,  and 
very  apt  to  quarrel  with  his  bejl  friends" 
This  obfervation  you  will  find  fully  verified 
in  the  courfe  of  the  narrative  ;  and  as  the 
opinions  and  manners  of  fuperiors  have  a 
very  great  influence  in  forming  the  char- 
acter of  inferiors,  you  need  not  be  fur- 
-,rile<l  if  you  find  a  family  likenefj  pre- 
ailing  -among  the  perfons  whofe  hiftory  I 

am 


THE     FORESTERS.  ij 

am  about  to  recite,  moft  of  whom  were 
formerly  rcfidents  in  Mr.  Bull's  houfe,  or 
apprentices  in  his  (hop. 

There  was  among  the  appendages  to 
John's  eftate,  a  pretty  large  tract  of  land, 
which  had  been  neglected  by  his  anceftors, 
and  which  he  never  cared  much  about,  ex- 
cepting that  now  and  then  fome  of  his 
family  went  thither  a  hunting,  and  brought 
home  venifon  and  furs.  Indeed  this  was, 
as  far  as  I  can  find,  the  bell  pretence  that 
John  had  to  call  the  land  his  ;  for  he  had 
no  legal  title  to  it.  It  was  then  a  very 
woody  country,in  fome  parts  rocky  and  hil- 
ly, in  other  parts  level  j  well  watered  with 
brooks  and  ponds,  and  the  whole  of  it  bor- 
dered on  a  large  lake,  in  which  were  plenty 
of  filh,  fome  of  which  were  often  ferved  up 
at  John's  tabic,  on  fait  days. 

The  (lories  told  by  one  and  another  of 
thcic  adventurers,  had  made  a  deep  impref- 
fion  on  the  mind  of  Walter  Pipcweed,  ontj 

of 


i4  THE     FORESTERS. 

of  John's  domeftks,  a  fellow  of  a  roving 
and  prcje£tmg  difpofition,  and  who  had 
learned  the  art  of  furveying.  Walter  hav- 
ing frequently  liflened  to  their  chat,  began 
to  think  within  himfelf,  "If  thefe  fellows 
make  fo  many  pence  by  their  excuvfions  to 
this  wild  fpot,  what  might  not  I  gain  by  fit- 
ting down  upon  it  ?  There  is  plenty  of 
game  and  fiih  at  hand,  for  a  prefent  fupply ; 
plenty  of  nuts  and  acorns  to  fatten  pigs, 
and  with  fome  fmall  labour  I  may  be  able 
to  raife  corn  and  feed  poultry,  which  will 
fetch  me  a  good  price  at  market. — I  can 
carry  bifket  enough  in  my  pockets  to  keep 
me  alive  till  my  firft  crop  comes  in,  and  my 
dog  can  live  upon  the  offals  of  the  game 
that  I  fnall  kill. — Befides,  who  knows  what 
treafures  the  land  itfelf  may  contain — per- 
haps fome  rich  mines  ! — then  I  am  made 
for  this  world — I  mall  be  as  rich  as  Lord 
Strut  ! 

Full  of  this  dream,  Walter  applied  to 
hii  ir.aiter  one  day  for  a  leafe  of  part  of 

the 


THE     FORESTERS.  15 

the  fore/?,  as  it  was  called.  Bull  at  fir  ft 
laughed  at  the  propofal,  and  put  him  off; 
but  Walter  followed  it  up  fo  clofe,  and 
told  what  advantages  might  be  gained  by 
fettling  there,  and  promifed,  if  he  mould 
fucceed,  to  turn  all  his  trade  into  his  maf- 
ter's  hand,  and  give  him  the  refufal  of 
whatever  he  might  bring  to  market,  and 
withal  fhewed  him  fome  drafts,  which 
he  had  made  with  chalk,  from  the  reports 
of  the  huntfmen,  that  Bull  began  to  think 
of  the  matter  in  good  earned,  and  confult- 
ed  his  lawyer  upon  the  iubjeft,  who,  after 
due  confideration  of  the  premifes,  and  ftrok- 
jng  his  band,  advifed  him  as  follows.  "Why 
yes,  Mr.  Bull,  I  don't  fee  why  you  ought 
not  to  look  about  you  as  well  as  your  neigh- 
bours. You  know  that  old  Lord  Peter  lays 
claim  to  the  whole  country,  and  has  afTum- 
ed  to  parcel  it  out  among  his  devotees. 
He  has  given  all  the  weitern  part  of  it, 
where  this  foreft  lies,  to  Lord  Strut,  and  he 
has  a  large  manor  adjoining  to  your  foreft, 
which,  they  fay,  yields  him  a  fine  rent,  and 

who 


»6  THE     FORESTERS-. 

who  knows  but  this  may  bring  you  in  a$ 
much,  or  more? — Then  there  is  Lewis,  the 
cudgel  player,  and  Nicholas,  Frog,  the  dra- 
per, who  have,  perhaps,  (I  fay.  perhaps,  Mr. 
Bull,  becauie  there  may  be  a  little  doubt 
on  both  fides,  and  in  that  cafe,  you  know 
Sir,  it  would  not  become  gentlemen  of  our 
cloth  to  fpeak  pofitively)  as  good  a  claim 
as  your  Honor  to  this  land ;  but  then  it  is. 
a  maxim,  you  know,  that  poiieiHon  is  elev- 
en points  of  the  law,  and  if  you  once  get 
your  foot  upon  it,  they  cannot  ouit  you 
without  a  procefs,  and  your  Honor  knows 
that  your  purfe  is. as.  long  as  theirs,  and  you 
are  as  able  to  itanda  fuit  with  them  as  they 
are  with  you,  I  therefore  axlvife  you  to  hu- 
mour your  man  Walter,  and  give  him  a 
kale,  and  a  pretty  large  one — you  may 
find  more  advantages  in  it  than  you  are 
avv\ae  of — but  leale  it,  leafe  it,. at  any  rate." 
Upon  this  lie  was  ordered  to  make  out  a 
kale  -,  and  Walter  being  thus  inverted  with 
as  good  authority  as  couid  be  obtained,  fill- 
ed Ids  pockets  with  bread  and  elieefe,  took 

his 


THE     FORESTERS.  13 

his  gun,  powdcr-flaflc,  and  fhot  of  various 
kinds,  with  a  parcel  of  fifhing-lines  and 
hooks,  his  furveying  inftruments,  and  a  ba;; 
of  corn  on  his  lhoulders,  and  off  he  trotted 
to  his  new  paradife. 

It  was  fome   time  before  he  could  fix 
upon  a  fpot  to  his   liking,  and   he  at   firit 

met  with  fome   oppofition    from   the  bears 

and  wolves,  and  was  greatly  expofed  to  the 

weather,  before  he  could  build  him  a  hut ; 

once  or  twice  the  favage  animals  had  almoft 

devoured  him,  but  being  made  of  good  (luff, 

be  flood  his   ground,   cleared  a   little  fpot, 

put  his  feed  into  the  earth,  and  lived  as  well 

as  fuch   adventurers  can  expect,  poorly  e- 

nough  at  fir  ft,  but    fupported,    as   all  new 

planters   are,  by  the  hope  of  better  times. 

After  a  while  lie  began  to  thrive,  and  his 

mailer  Bull  recommended  a  v/ifi*  whom 

he  married,  and  by  whom  he  had  a  number 

or  children.     Having  found  a  new  fort  of 

grain    in  the    foreft,  and  a  certain  plant  of 

a  narcotic  quality,  he  cultivated  both,  and 

having 
*  The  charter  of  Virginia, 


IS  THE     FORESTERS. 

raving  procured  a  number  of  black  catt!er 
he  went  on  pretty  gaily  in  the  planting  way, 
and  brought  his  narcotic  weed  into  great 
repute,  by  fending  a  prefent  of  a  quantity 
of  it  to  his  old  rnafter,  who  grew  excefhve- 
ly  fond  of  it,  and  kept  calling  for  more,  till 
he  got  the  whole  trade  of  it  into  his  own 
hands,  and  fold  it  out  of  his  own  ware- 
houfe  to  Lewis,  Frog,  and  all  the  other 
tradcfmen  around  him.  In  return,  he  fup- 
plied  Walter  v/ith  cloths  and  fluffs  for  his 
family,  and  utenfils  for  his  hufbandry  ;  and 
as  a  reward  for  being  the  firft,  who  had 
courage  to  make  a  fettlement  in  his  foreft, 
he  dignified  his  plantation  with  the  name 
of  the  ancient  dominion,  Befide  this  mark 
of  refpecl:,  and  in  token  of  his  high  efteem. 
of  him  as  a  cuflomer,  as  well  as  for  certain 
other  reafons,  he  made  it  a  practice,  every 
year,  to  prefent  him  with  a  waggon  load  of 
Ordure^  the  fweepings  of  his  back  yard,  the 
fcrapings  of  his  dog  kennel,  and  contents 
cf  his  own  water  clofet.  This  was  a  mark 
of  pclitenefs  which  John  valued  himfelf 

much 


THE     FORESTER  S.  19 

much  upon.  "  It  may  feem  odd  (faid  he 
one  day  to  a  friend)  that  I  make  fuch  a  kind 
of  compliment  as  this  to  my  good  cuftom- 
er ;  but  if  you  ccmnder  it  aright,  you  wiil 
find  it  a  piece  of  refined  policy  *,  for  by  this 
means  I  get  rid  of  a  deal  of  trafh  and  rub- 
biih  that  is  neceilarily  made  ill  fuch  a  fam- 
ily as  mine  ;  I  get  a  curfed  ftink  removed 
from  under  my  nofe,  and  my  good  friend 
has  the  advantage  of  it  upon  his  farm,  to 
manure  his  grounds,  and  make  them  pro- 
duce more  plentifully  that  precious  weed  in 
which  we  all  fo  much  delight."  Walter 
was  often  feen,  on  the  arrival  of  Bull's 
waggon,  to  clap  his  handkerchief  to  his 
nofe  ;  but  as  he  knew  his  old  mafter  was 
an  odd  fort  of  a  fellow,  and  it  was  his  in- 
terest to  keep  in  with  him,  he  generally 
turned  off  the  compliment  with  a  laugh, 
faying,  good-naturedly  enough,  <c  Let  him 
laugh  that  wins,"  without  explaining  his 
ling,  though  it  might  admit  of  a  double 
entendre ;  then  calling  fome  of  his  ^ervants, 
he  ordered  them  to  lhovel  out  the  dung, 

and 


go  THE     FORESTERS. 

and  make  his  black  cattle  mix  theirs  with  it. 
When  ipread  over  the  land,  the  air  took 
out  moil  of  the  fcent,  and  the  falts  were  of 
feme  advantage  to  the  foil. 

After  Walter  Pipcwecd  had  got  his  af- 
fairs into  tolerable  order,  he  was  vifited  in 
his  retirement  by  Cecilius  Pctcrfon>*  anoth- 
er of  Bull's  apprentices,  who  had  taken  a 
fancy  to  the  fame  kind  of  life,  from  a  dit- 
guft  to  fome  things  that  had  happened  in 
the  family.  He  had  not  been  long  with 
Walter  before  he  found  it  woidd  not  do  for 
him  to  remain  there.  Peterfon  was  fuppo- 
fed  to  be  a  natural  fon  of  old  Lord  Peter > 
after  whom  he  was  nick-named.  He  had 
the  fame  affected  airs,  and  a  tincture  of  the 
high-flying  notions  of  his  reputed  father. 
Thefe  made  him  rather  diiguitful  to  Wal- 
ter, who  had  learned  his  manners  of  Mr. 
Bull's  mother,  when  me  was  in  her  fobcr 

fenfes, 

*  Lord  Baltimore,  who  firfr  fettled  Maryland,  was 
a  Papift  ;  his  fucceflbrs  abjured  Popery,  and  conform- 
ed to  the  Church  of  England. 


THE     FORESTERS.  at 

fenfes,  and  between  her  and  Lord  Peter 
there  had  been  a  long  varianee.  When 
•Peterfon  perceived  that  his  company  was 
-not  dcfired,  he  had  fo  much  good  fenfe  as 
to  leave  Walter's  plantation,  and,  paddling 
•acrofs  a  creek,  feated  himfelf  on  a  point  of 
land  that  ran  out  into  the  lake.  Of  this  he 
obtained  a  leafe  of  his  old  mafter,  and  went 
to  work  in  the  fame  manner  as  Walter  had 
done,  who,  liking  his  company  beft  at  a  dif- 
tance,  was  willing  to  fupply  him  with  bread 
and  meat  till  he  could  icramble  for  himfelf. 
Here  he  took  to  huibandry,  railing  corn  and 
the  narcotic  weed,  and  buying  up  black  cat- 
tit,  and  after  a  while  turned  his  produce  into 
his  old  mailer's  ware-houfe,  and  received 
frolm  him  the  annual  compliment  of  a  wag- 
gon load  of  dung,  excepting  that  when  there 
had  not  been  fo  much  as  ufual  made,  he  and 
Walter  were  to  {hare  a  load  between  them* 

To  ingratiate  himfelf  (rill  farther  with 
his  old  mafter,  he  accepted  of  a  girl  out  of 
hh  family  for  a  wife,  (for  John  was  always 

fond 


a*  THE     FORESTERS. 

fond  of  his  tenants  marrying  for  fear  of 
their  doing  worfe)  he  took  as  little  notice 
as  poflible  of  his  reputed  father,  and  drop- 
ping, or  diibwning  his  nick-name  of  Peter- 
fon,  he  aflumed  that  of  Marygold,  which 
old  Madam  Bull  underftood  as  a  compli- 
ment to  one  of  her  daughters.  He  alfo 
made  his  court  to  the  old  lady  by  kneeling 
down  and  killing  the  golden  fringe  of  her 
embroidered  petticoat,  as  was  the  falhion 
of  that  day.  This  ceremony,  though  a  trifle 
in  itfelf,  helped  much  to  recommend  him 
to  Mr.  Bull,  who  was  a  very  dutiful  fon, 
and  took  his  mother's  advice  in  moil  parts 
of  his  bufmefs.  In  fhort,  Cecilius  was  too 
much  of  a  politician  to  fuppofe  that  filial 
affecliion  ought  to  Hand  in  the  way  of  a 
man's  intereft,  and  in  this  he  judged  as  ma- 
ny other  men  would  have  done  in  the  fame 
cixcumflanccs. 


THE     FORESTERS.  y 


letter  n. 

Sicknefs  and  Delirium  of  Mr,  Bull's  Mother, 
—Adventures  of  Peregrine  Pickle.-— 
John  Codline. — Humphry  Plough- 
share.— Roger  Carrier,  and  The- 
ophilus  Wheat-ear. 


bear  sir, 

ABOUT  the  time  in  which  thefe 
firfl  attempts  were  making,  and  the  fame 
of  them  had  raifed  much  jealoufy  among 
fome,  and  much  expe elation  among  others, 
there  happened  a  fad  quarrel  in  John  BulPs 
family.  His  mother,  poor  woman,  had 
been  feized  with  hyfleric  fits,  which  caufed 
her  at  times  to  be  delirious  and  full  of  all 
forts  of  whims.  She  had  taken  it  into  her 
head  that  every  one  of  the  family  muft  hold 

knife 


i*  THE     FORESTERS. 

knife  r.rd  fork  and  fpoon  exactly  alike  ;  that 
they  rnuft  all  wafh  their  hands  and  face 
precifely  in  the  fame  manner ;  that  they 
mud  uty  {land,  walk,  kneel,  "bow,  fpit,  blow 
their  nofes,  and  perform  every  other  ani- 
mal function  by  the  exact,  rule  of  uniformity  f 
which  fhe  had  drawn  up  with  her  own 
hand,  and  from  which  they  were  not  al- 
lowed to  vary  one  hair's  breadth.  If  any 
one  of  the  family  complained  of  a  lame  an* 
cle  or  ftiffknee,  or  had  the  crick  in  his  neck, 
or  happened  to  cut  his  finger,  or  was  any 
other  way  fo  difabled  as  not  to  perform  his 
duty  to  a  tittle,  (he  was  fo  far  from  making 
{he  leafl  allowance,  that  fhe  would  frown, 
and  fcold,  and  rave  like  a  bedlamite  ;  and 
John  was  fuch  an  obedient  fon  to  his  moth- 
er, that  he  would  lend  her  his  hand  W  box 
their  ears,  or  liis  foot  to  kick  their  bacV- 
fides,  for  not  complying  with  her  humour 
This  way  of  proceeding  raifed  an  uproar 
the  family ;  for  though  rnoft  of  them  co 
plied,  either  through  affection  for  the  old 
lady,  or  through  fear,  or  foine  other  motive, 

vet 


THE     FORESTERS.  *$ 

yet  others  looked  four,  and  grumbled; 
fome  would  openly  find  fault  and  attempt 
to  remonitrate,  but  they  were  anfwered 
with  a  kick  or  a  thump,  or  a  cat-o  nine- 
tails,  or  fhut  up  in  a  dark  garret  till  they 
promifed  a  compliance.  Such  wat  the 
logic  of  the  family  in  thofe  days! 

Among  the  number  of  the  difafFecr.ed? 
was  Peregrine  Pickle,  a  pretty  clever  fort  of 
a  fellow  about  his  bufinefs,  but  a  great  lov- 
er of  four  crout,  and  of  an  humour  that 
would  not  bear  contradiction.  However, 
as  he  knew  it  would  be.  fruitlefs  to  enter 
into  a  downright  quarrel,  and  vet  could  not 
live  there  in  peace;  he  had  fo  much  pru- 
dence as  to  quit  the  houfe,  which  he  did  by 
getting  out  of  the  window  in  the  night. 
Not  liking  to  be  out  of  employment,  he 
went  to  the  houfe  of  Nicholas  Frog,  his 
matters  old  friend  and  rival,  told  him  the 
ftory  of  his  fufferings,  and  got  leave  to  em- 
ploy himfclf  in  one  of  his  workfhops  till  the 
dorm  mould  be  over.  After  he  had  been 
here  a  while,  he  thought  Nick's 


«6  THE     FORESTERS. 

as  much  too  loofe  in  their  manners  as  Bull's 
were  too  ftric"t ;  and  having  heard  a  ru- 
mour of  the  Foreft,  to  which  Nick  had 
fome  kind  of  claim,  he  packed  up  his  little 
all,  and  hired  one  of  Nick's  fervants  who 
had  been  there  a  hunting,  to  pilot  him  to 
that  part  of  the  Foreft  to  which  Nick  laid 
claim.  But  Frog  had  laid  an  anchor  to 
windward  of  him  ;  for  as  Pickle  had  faid 
nothing  to  him  about  a  leafe,  !  ■  fuppofed 
that  when  Peregrine  had  got  into  the  For- 
eft he  would  take  a  leafe  of  his  old  mafter 
Bull,  which  would  ftrengthen  his  title,  and 
weaken  his  own;  he  therefore  bribed  the 
pilot  to  {hew  Peregrine  to  a  barren  part  of 
the  Foreft,  inftead  of  that  fertile  place*  to 
which  he  had  already  ient  his  furveyors, 
and  of  which  he  was  contriving  *to  get  pof- 
feflion.  Accordingly  the  pilot  having  con- 
dueled  Pickle  to  a  fandy  point  which  n 
into  the  lakejfit  being  the  duik  of  the  evt 
ingjt  bade  him  good  night,  and  walked  i   I 


Peregrine,    who   was    fatigued    with 

"   march. 

*  Hudfon's  River.         f  Cape  Cud, 
|  The  month  of  December, 


THE     FORESTERS.  27 

to  arch,  laid  down  and  went  to  fleep,  but 
waking  in  the  morning,  faw  himfelf  alone 
in  a  very  dreary  fituation,  where  he  could 
•get  nothing  to  live  upon  but  clams,  and  a 
few  acorns  which  the  fquirrels  had  left.  In 
this  piteous  plight,  the  poor  fellow  folded 
his  arms,  and  walking  along  the  iandy  beach, 
fell  into  fiich  a  foliloquy  as  this.  "So 
much  for  travelling  !  Abufcd  by  Bull,  cheat- 
ed .-by  Frcv.i.  what  am  I  at  lafl  come  to? 
Here  I  am*  alone,  no  creatures  but  bears, 
and  wolves,  and  fuch  vermin  around  me  ! 
Nothing  in  the  fhape  of  an  human  being 
that  I  know  of,  nearer  than  Pipeweed's  plan- 
tation, and  with  him  I  cannot  agree  ;  he 
is  to  devoted  to  old  Dame  Bull  that  he  and 
I  cannot  live  together  any  more  than  I 
could  with  the  old  woman.  But,  why 
mould  I  defpair  ?  That  is  unmanly  ;  there 
is  at  leaft  a  pcjjibility  cf  my  living  here, 
and  if  I  am  disappointed  in  my  worldly 
profpecl:s,  it  is  but  right,  for  I  profefled 
net  to  have  any.  Ivly  wiln  was  to  have  my 
own  way  without  difturbance  or  contradic- 
tion, and  furely  I  can  here  enjoy  my  liber- 
C  z  t* 


a8  THE     FORESTERS. 

ty.  I  have  nobody  here  to  curfe  me,  or 
kick  me,  or  cheat  me.  If  I  have  only  clams 
to  eat,  I  can  cook  them  my  own  way,  and 
fay  as  long  a  grace  over  them  as  I  pleafe. 
I  can  fit  or  fland,  or  kneel,  or  ufe  any  other 
pofture  at  my  devotions,  without  any  crofs 
old  woman  to  growl  at  me,  or  any  hector- 
ing bully  to  cuff  me  ■  for  it.  So  that  if  I 
have  loft  in  one  way  I  have  gained  in  anoth- 
er. I  had  better  therefore  reconcile  myielf 
to  my  fituation,  and  make  the  beft  of  a  bad 
market.  But  company  is  good  !  Apropos  ! 
I  will  write  to  fome  of  my  fellow-appren- 
tices ;  I  know  they  were  as  difcontented  as 
myfelf  in  old  Bull's  family,  though  they 
did  not  care  to  fpeak  their  minds  as  plainly 
as  I  did.  I'll  tell  them  how  much  happi- 
nefs  I  enjoy  here  in  my  folitude.  I'll  point 
out  to  them  the  charms  of  liberty,  and  coax 
them  to  follow  me  into  the  wildernefs ; 
and. by  and  by,  when  we  get  all  "together, 
we  fhall  make  a  brave  hand  of  it."  Full  of 
tJus  refolution,  he  fat  down  on  a  wind-fall- 
en tree,  and  pulling  out  his  inkhorn  and  pa- 
yer,   wrote  a  letter  to  John  Codiine,  Hunt* 


THE     FORESTERS.  29 

phvy  Pltotgh/barey  and  Riger  Carrier^  three 
of  his  fellow-apprentices,  informing  them 
of  the  extreme  happinefs  he  enjoyed  in  hav- 
ing liberty  to  eat  his  fcanty  meals  in  his 
own  way,  and  to  lay  his  fwelled  ancles  and 
ftiff  knee  in  whatever  pofture  was  molt  eafy 
to  him ;  conjuring  them  by  their  former 
friendfhip,  to  come  to  join  him  in  carry- 
ing on  the  good  work  ib  happily  begun, 
&c.  Sec.  As  foon  as  he  had  finifhed  the 
letter,  (which  had  deeply  engaged  his  atten- 
tion) a  huntfman  happened  to  come  along 
in  queft  of  game.  This  was  a  lucky  cir- 
cumftance  indeed,  for  Peregrine  had  not 
once  thought  of  a  conveyance  for  his  let- 
ter ;  it  proved  alfo  favourable  to  him  in 
another  view,  for  the  huntfman  taking  pity 
on  his  forlorn  fituation,  fpared  him  fome 
powder  and  mot,  and  a  few  bifcuit  which 
he  happened  to  have  in  his  pocket ;  fo  tak- 
ing charge  of  the  letter,  he  delivered  it  as 
it  was  directed. 

This  letter  arrived  in   good    feafon,  for. 
old  Madam  had  grown  much  worle  fmce 

Pickle 


$9  THE     FORESTERS. 

Pickle  had   left  the  family  •,    her  vapours 
had  increafedy  and  her  longings  and  aver- 
fions  were    much  ftrongcr.  ?  She   had    a 
ftrange  lurch  for  embroidered  petticoats  and 
high  waving   plumes  •,  her  Chriftmas  pies, 
mull  have  double  the  quantity  of  fpice  that 
was  ufual ;  the  fervants  mult  make   three 
bows  where  they  formerly  made  but  one, 
and  they  muft  never  come  into  her  prefence 
without  having  curled  and  powdered  their 
hair  in  the  pink  of  the  mode,  for  flie  had 
an    averfion   to   every   thing   plain,   and   a? 
flrong  relifh  for  every  thing  gaudy.     Be- 
fides,,  (he  had  an  high-mettled    chaplain* 
who  was  conftantly  at  her  elbow,   and  faid. 
prayers  night  and  morning  in  a  brocaded 
cope  with  a  gilded  mitre  on  his  head  *,  and 
he  exacted  fo  many  bows  and  fcrapes  of  ev- 
ery one  in  the  family,  that  it  would  have 
puzzled   a  French  dancing-mafler  to  have 
kept  pace  with  him.     Nor  would  he  per* 
form  the  fervice  at  all,  unlefs  a  verger  ftood 
by  him  all  the  while  with  a  yard-wand  in 
his  hand  -,  and  if  any  fervant  or  apprentice 

miffed 

*  ArchbifLcp  Laud. 


THE     FORESTERS.  3I 

miffed  one  bow  or  fcrape,  or  made  it  at  the 
wrong  time,  or  dared  to  look  off  his  book, 
or  faid  Amen  in  the  wrong  place,  rap  went 
the  (tick  over  his  head  and  ears  or  knuckles. 
It  was  in  vain  to  appeal  from  the  chaplain 
or  the  old  Dame  to  their  matter,  for  he  was 
>o  obedient  a  fon  that  he  fuffered  them  to 
go\rern  him  as  they  pleafed  ;  nay,  though 
broad  hints  were  given  that  the  chaplain 
v/as  an  cmiilary  of  lord  Peter,  and  was  tak- 
ing advantage  of  the  old  lady's  hyfterics  to 
bring  the  whole  family  into  his  intereft,  John 
gave  no  heed  to  any  of  thefe  inlinuations. 

As  foon  as  the  letter  of  Peregrine  Pickle 
arrived,  the  apprentices,  to  whom  it  was 
directed,  held  a  confutation  what  thev 
fhould  clo.  They  were  heartily  tired  of 
the  conduct  of  the  chaplain  ;  they  lament- 
ed the  old  lady's  ill  health,  and  wimed  for 
a  cure  ;  but  there  was  at  prefent  no  hope 
of  it,  and  they  concluded  that  it  wis  beft 
to  follow  Pickle's  advice,  and  retire  with 
him  into  the  Fore  ft.  Though  they  were 
infecTed  with  the  fpirit  of  adventure,  yet 

they 


32  THE     FORESTERS. 

they  were  a  fet  of  wary  fellows,  and  knew 
they  could,  not  with  fafety  venture  thither 
unlefs  they  had  a  Icafe  of  the  land.  Hap- 
pily, however,  for  them,  Bull  had  a  little 
while  before  that  put  the  affairs  of  the  For- 
eft  into  the  hands  of  a  gentleman  of  the 
law,*  with  orders  to  fee  that  the  matter 
was  properly  managed,  fo  as  to  yield  him 
fome  certain  profit.  To  this  fage  they  ap- 
plied, and  for  the  proper  fee?.,  which  they 
clubbed  for  between  them,  they  obtained  a 
leafe,  under  hand  and  feal ;  wherein,  for 
"  fundry  caufes  him  thereunto  moving,  the- 
faid  Bull  did  grant  and  convey  unto  John 
Codline  and  his  aiTociates,  fo  many  acres  of 
his  Forelt,  bounded  fo  and  fo,  and  which' 
they  were  to  have,,  hold,,  and  enjoy  for  ever 
and  ever,  yielding  and  paying  lb  and  fo, 
and  fo  forth."  When  this  grand  point  was 
gained  by  the  afliftance  of  the  lawyer  and 
his  clerks,  who  knew  how  to  manage  bu fi- 
nd's, the  adventurers  fold  all  their  fuper- 
fluities  to  the  pawn-brokers,  and  got  to- 
gether   what    thing]    they    fuppofed    they 

mould'' 
The  Council  of  Plymouth  in  Devonshire, 


THE     FORESTERS.  33 

ihould  want,  and  leaving  behind  them  a 
note  on  the  compter,*  to  tell  their  matter 
where  they  were  bound,  and  what  were* 
their  defigns  ;  they  fet  off  all  together  and- 
got  fafe  into  a  part  of  the  Foreft  adjoining 
to  Pickle,  who,  hearing  of  their  arrival, 
took  his  oaken  ftatY  in  his  hand,  and  hob- 
bled along  as  fait  as  his  lame  legs  could 
carr)  him  to  fee  them,  and  a  joyful  meet- 
ing indeed  they  had.  Having  laid  their 
heads  together,  it  was  agreed  that  Codline 
mould  fend  for  a  girl  whom  he  had  courtr- 
ed,f  and  marry  her,  and  that  he  mould  be 
eortfidered  as  the  lord  of  the  manor,  that 
Pickle  fliouM  have  a  leafe  of  that  part  which 
\  pitched  upon,  and  that  Ploughfhare 
and  Carrier  (hould  for  the  prefent  be  con-- 
fidefed  as  members  of  Codline's  family. 
John  had  taken  a  great  fancy  to  fifhing, 
ana  thought  he  could  wholly  or  chieflv  fub- 
fift  by  it ;  but  Humphry  had  a  mind  for  a 
farm  ;    ib   after    a    while    they    parted   in 

friendship. 

*  Letter  written  on  board  the  Arabella,  after  the. 
•-1 '  :r -kation  cf  the  Maflachufetts  fcttlcrs. 
Maflachufetts  charter. 


34  THJfc    FORESTERS. 

friendship.  Humphry,  with  a  pack  on  his- 
back  and  a  fpade  in  his  hand,  travelled  a- 
crofs  the  Foreft  till  he  found  a  wide  mead- 
ow with  a  large  brook*  running  through  it, 
which  he  fuppofed  to  be  within  John's 
grant,  and  intended  flill  to  confider  himfelf 
as  a  diftant  member  of  the  family.  But  as. 
it  fell  out  otherwife,  he  was  obliged  to  get  a. 
new  leafe,  to  which  Mr.  Frog  made  fome 
objections,  but  they  were  over-ruled  ;  and 
foon  after  another  old  fellow  fervant,  The- 
gj»hilus  Wheat-ear,  came  and  fat  down* 
by  him.  They  being  fo  much  alike  in  their 
views  and  difpofitions,  agreed  to  live  to- 
gether as  intimates,  though  in  two  families, 
which  they  did  till  Wheat-ear's  death,  when. 
Ploughfhare  became  his  fole  heir,  and  the 
cftate  has  ever  fmce  been  his.  This  Hum- 
phry was  always  a  very  induftrious,  frugal, 
faving  hufband ;  and  his  wife,  though  a 
formal  ftrait-laced  fort  of  a  body,  yet  al- 
ways minded  her  fpinning  and  knitting,  and 
took  excellent  care  of  her  dairy.  She  al- 
ways cloathed  her  children  in  Jiomefpun  gar- 

mentSj 

*  Connecticut  River. 


THE     FORESTERS.  25 

ments,  and  fcarcely  ever  fpent  a  farthing 
for  outlandifh  trinkets.  The  family  and 
all  its  concerns  were  under  very  exact  reg- 
ulations :  not  one  of  them  was  fuffered  to 
peep  out  of  doors  after  the  fun  was  fet. 
It  was  never  allowed  to  brew  on  Saturday, 
left  the  beer  fhould  break  the  Fourth  Com- 
mandment by  working  on  Sunday  :  and 
once,  it  is  faid,  the  ftaliion  was  impounded 
a  whole  week  for  holding  crinu  con.  with 
the  mare  while  the  Old  gentleman  was  at 
his  devotions,  Bating  thefe  peculiarities, 
(and  every  body  has  fome)  Humphry  was 
a  very  good  fort  of  a  man,  a  kind  neighbour, 
very  thriving,  and  made  a  resectable  fig- 
ure. Though  he  lived  a  retired  life,  and 
did  not  much  follow  the  fafhions,  yet  he 
railed  a  good  cftate,  and  brought  up  a  large 
family.  His  children  and  grand-children 
have  penetrated  the  interior  parts  of  the 
country,  and  feated themiclves  on.  the  bell 
foil,  which  they  know  how  to  diilinguiih 
at  firft  fight,  and  to  cultivate  to  the  great- 
est advantage.  Whereever  you  find  them, 
you  find  good  huibandmen, 


THE     FORESTERS. 


letter  in. 

John  Codline  quarrels  with  Roger  Car- 
rier, and  turns  him  out  of  Doors,  Car- 
rier retires  to  another  Part  of  the  Foreji. 
CoDiAtiE furveys  his  Land;  takes  Robert 
Lumber  under  his  Protection — Begins  a 
Suit  with  the  Fifhermen  of  Lewis,  which, 
with  other  Incidents,  excites  the  Jealoufy  of 
Mr.  Bull. 


dear  sir, 

AFTER  Ploughfhare's  departure, 
John  Codline  with  his  family  kept  on  their 
ftfhing  and  planting,  and  fometimes  went 
a/hunting,  fo  that  they  made  out  to  ge|  a 
tolerable  fubfifience.  John's  family  grew, 
and  he  fettled  his  fons  as  fail  as  they  be- 
came of  age,  to  live  by  themfelves  ;    and 

when 


THE     FORESTERS.  37 

when  any  of  his  old  acquaintance  came  to 
fee  him,  he  bade  them  welcome,  and  was 
their  very  good  friend,  as  hug  as  they  contin- 
ued to  be  of  his  mind,  and  no  longer  ;  for  he 
was  a  very  pragmatical  fort  of  a  fellow, 
and  loved  to  have  his  own  way  in  every 
thing.  This  wtis  the  caufe  of  a  quarrel 
between  him  and  Roger  Carrier,  for  it  hap- 
:  Roger  had  taken  a  fancy  to  dip 
id  into  water,*  as  the  moft  effectual 
way  of  wafhing  his  face,  and  thought  it 
could  no:  be  made  fo  clean  in  any  other 
way.  John,  who  uicd  the  common  v. 
taking  water  in  his  hand,  to  wafh  his  f.\ccy 
was  difpleafed  with  Rogers  innovation, 
and  rem  orJ.tr  ated  againit  it.  The  remon- 
ftrance  had  no  other  effect,  than  to  fix 
Roger's  opinion  more  firmly  ;  and  as  a  far- 
ther improvement  on  his  new  plan,  he 
pretended  that  no  perfon  ought  to  have  his 
face  warned  till  he  was  capable  of  doing  it 
himfelf,  without  any  afliftance  from  his 
parents.  John  was  out  of  patience  with 
this  addit:o::;   and   plumply  told  him,  that 

if 

i 


38  THE     FORESTERS. 

if  he  did  not  reform  his  principles  and 
practice,  he  would  fine  him,  or  flog  him, 
or  kick  him  out  of  doors.  Thefe  threats 
put  Roger  on  inventing  other  odd  and 
whimfical  opinions.  He  took  offence  at 
the  letter  X,  and  would  have  had  it  ex- 
punged from  the  alphabet,  becaufe  it  was 
the  fhape  of  a  crofs,  and  had  a  tendency  to 
introduce  Popery.*  He  would  not  do  his 
duty  at  a  military  muiter,  becaufe  there 
was  an  X  in  the  colours.  After  a  while 
he  began  to  fcruple  the  lawfulnefs  of  bear- 
ing arms,  and  killing  wild  beafts.  But, 
poor  fellow  !  the  worft  of  all  was,  that 
being  feized  with  a  making  palfy,f  which 
affected  every  limb  and  joint  of  him,  his 
fpeech  was  io  altered  that  he  was  unable 
to  pronounce  certain  letters  and  fyllables  as 
lie  had  been  ufed  to  do.  Thefe  oddities 
and  defects  rendered  him  more  and  mere 
■  difagreeable  to  his  old  friend,  who,  how- 
ever, kept  his  temper  as  well  as  he  could, 
.till  one  day,  as  John  was   faying  a   long 

grace 
*■  Rcger  Williams's  zeal  agai-afl  theiign  of  the  crojk. 
f  Quakers. 


THE     FORESTERS.  3$ 

grace  over  his  meat,  Roger  kept  his  hat  on 
the  whole  time.  As  foon  as  the  ceremony 
was  over,  John  took  up  a  cafe-knife  from 
the  table,  and  gave  Roger  a  blow  on  the 
ear  with  the  broad  fide  of  it,  then  with  a 
rifing  ftroke  turned  of?  his  hat,  Roger 
faid  nothing,  but  taking  up  "his  hat  put  it 
on  again  •,  at  which  John  broke  out  into 
fuch  a  paflionatt?*  fpecch  as  this — u  You 
impudent  fcoundrel  !  is  it  come  to  this  ? 
Have  I  not  borne  with  your  whims  and 
fidgets  thefe  many  years,  and  yet  they 
grow  upon  you  ?  Have  I  not  talked  with 
you  time  after  time,  and  proved  to  you  at 
plain  as  the  nofe  in  your  face  that  your  no- 
tions are  wrong  ?  Have  I  not  ordered  you 
to  leave  them  off,  and  warned  you  of  the 
confequence,  and  yet  you  have  gone  on 
.from  bad  to  worfe  ?  You  began  with  dip- 
ping your  head  into -water,  and  would  have 
all  the  family  do  the  fame,  pretending 
there  was  no  other  way  of  Warning  the 
'face.  You  would  have  had  the  children 
go  dirty  all  their  days,  under  pretence  that 
"hey  were  not  able  to  warn  their  own  face.*, 

-and 


40  THE     FORESTERS. 

and  fo  they  mufl  have  been  as  filthy  as 
the  pigs  till  they  were  grown  up.  Then 
you  would  talk  your  own  balderdafh  lin- 
go, thee  and  thou,  and  nan  for/both — and 
now  you  mull  keep  your  hat  on  when  I 
am  at  my  devotions,  and  I  fuppofe  would 
be  glad  to  have  the  whole  family  do  the 
fame  !  There  is  no  bearing  with  you  any 
longer — fo  now,  hear  me,  I  give  you  fair 
warning,  if  you  don't  mend  your  manners, 
and  retract,  your  errors,  and  promise  refor- 
mation, I'll  kick  you  out  of  the  houfe.  I'll 
have  no  fuch  refractory  fellows  here  :  I 
came  into  this  foreft  for  reformation^  and 
reformation  I  will  have." 

"  Friend  John  (faid  Roger)  doft  not 
thou  remember  when  then  and  I  lived  to- 
gether in  friend  Bull's  family,  hew  hard 
thou  didft  think  it  to  be  compelled  to  look 
on  thy  book  all  the  time  that  the  hooded 
chaplain  was  reading  the  prayers,  and  how 
many  knptoks  and  thumps  thou  and  I  had 
ffering  to  ufe  our  liberty,  which  we 
:-.t   we   had   a    right  to  ?    Didft  thou 

- 


THE     FORESTE'RS.  4t 

not  come  hitherunto  for  the  fake  of  enjoy- 
nig  thy  liberty,  and  did  not  I  come  to  en- 
joy mine  ?  Wherefore  then  doft  thou  af- 
fume  to  deprive  me  of  the  right  which 
thou  claimed  for  thyfelf  ?" 

"Don't  tell  me  (anfwered  John)  of 
right  and  of  liberty — you  have  as  much 
liberty  as  any  man  ought  to  have.  You 
have  liberty  to  do  right,  and  no  man  ought 
to  have  liberty  to  do  .wrong." 

"  Who  is  to  be  judge  (replied  Roger) 
of  what  is  right  or  what  is  wrong  ?  Ought 
not  I  to  judge  for  myfelf  ?  or,  Thinkeft 
thou  it  is  thy  place  to  judge  for  mc  ?" 

"  Who  is  to  be  judge  ?  (faid  John)  why 
the  booh  is  to  be  judge  ;  and  I -have  proved 
by  the  book  over  and  over  again  that  you 
are  wrong,  and  therefore  you  are  wrong, 
and  you  have  no  liberty  to  do  any  thing  but 
v-hat  is  right." 

.D  « Bur 


4»  THE     FORESTERS. 

-  "  But  friend  John,  (faid  Roger)  who  h 
to  judge  whether  thou  haft  proved  my 
opinions  or  conduct  to  be  wrong — thou 
or  I  ?" 

"  Come,  come,  (faid  John)  not  fo  clofe 
neither  ;  none  of  your  idle  diflin&ions  :  I 
fay  you  are  in  the  wrong,  I  have  proved  it, 
and  you  ktioiv  it ;  you  have  finned  againfl 
your  oiun  cotifcience,  and  therefore  you  defcrve 
to  be   cut  off  as  an   incorrigible  heretic." 

"  How  doft  thou  know  (faid  Roger)  that 
I  have  finned  againfl  my  own  confeience  ? 
Canit  thou  iearch  the  heart  ?" 

At  this  John  was  fo  enraged  that  he 
gave  him  a  fmart  kick  on  the  pofleriors, 
and  bade  him  be  gone  out  of  his  houfe, 
and  off  his  lands,  and  called  after  him  to 
tell  him,  that  if  ever  he  mould  catch  him 
there  again  he  would  knock  his  brains  out. 
Roger,  having  experienced  the  logic  of 
the  foot,  applied  to  the  feat  ,of  honour, 
I  ol?,  with  as   much  mccbufs  as  hu- 

xnaii 


THE     FORESTERS.  4j 

man  nature  is  capable  of,  on  fuch  occa- 
ficns  ;  and  having  travelled  as  far  as  he 
fuppofed  to  be  cut  of  the  limits  of  John's 
leaie,  laid  himfelf  down  by  the  fide  of  a 
clear  rivulet,  which  flowed  down  a  hill ; 
here  he  compofed  himfelf  to  flecp,  and  on 
his  awaking  found  feveral  bears  about  him, 
but  none  offered  him  any  intuit.  Upon 
which  he  faid,  and  minuted  it  down  in  his 
pocket-book,  "Surely  the  beafts  of  the 
wildernefs  are  in  friendfhip  with  me,  and 
this  is  defigned  by  Providence*  as  my  reft- 
ing  place  ;  here,  therefore,  will  I  pitch  my 
tabernacle,  and  here  fliu.ll  I  dwell  more  in 
peace,  though  fmrrounded  by  bears  and 
wolves,  than  when  in  the  midft  of  thofe 
whom  I  counted  my  brethren." 

On  this  fpot  he  built  an  hut,  and  having 
taken  pofleflion,  made  a  vifit  to  his  old  mai- 
ter  Bull,  who  gave  him  a  leafe  of  the  place, 
with  an  Lfland  or  two  in  an  adjoining  cove 
D  2  of 

The  tov.-n  of  Prnvidence  was  built  by  emigrants 
'from  lfctt8j   of   whom   Roger  Wiiibri?    *r*3 


44  THE     FORESTERS. 

of   the   great   lake,   and  recommended  to 
him  a  wife,   by  whom   he  had  a  few  chil- 
dren ;    but   his   plantation   was   chiefly  in- 
creafed  by  the  flocking  of  flrangers  to  him  ; 
for  he  was  a  very  hofpitable  man,  and  made 
it  a  rule  in  his   family  not  to  refufe  any 
who  mould  come,  whether  lame  or  blind, 
(hort  or  tall,  whether  they  had  two  eyes  or 
one,  whether  they  fquinted,  or  Hammered, 
or  limped,  or  had  any  other  natural  defect 
or  impediment  j    it  was   another  rule  that 
all  mould  bear  with  the  infirmities  of  their 
neighbours,   and  help   them  as  they  were 
able.     Once,    as   I    was    palling    through 
Rogers  plantation,  I  faw  one  man  carrying 
another  on  his  moulders,  which,  at  firft,  I 
thought  a  very  odd  fight ;  upon  coming  up 
to  them,  I  perceived  that  the  lower  one 
was  blind,  and  the  upper  one  was  lame,  ib 
a.,  they  had  but  one  pair  of  eyes  and  one 
pair  of  legs  between  them,  the  lame  man 
availed  himfelf  of  the  blind  man's   legs, 
and  he  of  the  other's  eyes,  and  both  went 
along  very  well  together.    I  remember  alfq, 
that  ae  I  pafled  along,  the  fences  were  i& 

foine 


THE     FORESTERS.  45 

feme  places  made  of  very  crooked,  knotty 
rails  ;  but  the  crooks  and  knots  were  made 
to  fay  into  each  other  io  cleverly,  that  the 
fences  were  as  tight  as  if  they  had  been 
made  of  fluff  fawed  ever  fo  even  ;  a  circum- 
ftance  which  convinced  me  that  very  crook- 
ed things  might  be  put  together,  to  advan- 
tage, if  proper  pains  were  taken. 

When  John  Codline  had  fettled  the 
controverfy  with  Roger,  by  kicking  him 
out  of  doors,  he  began  to  look  about  him 
to  fee  what  his  neighbours  were  doing. 
Having  found  a  young  fellow  on  his  north- 
eaflern  limits,  who  had  come  thither  with- 
out his  knowledge  or  permiiTicn,  lie  took 
it  into  his  head  to  furvey  the  extent  of 
his  grounds.  The  words  of  his  leafe  were 
rather  ambiguous,  and  by  virtue  thereof, 
he  thought  it  convenient  to  extend  his 
claims  over  the  lands  on  which  Robert 
Lumber  (for  that  was  the  name  of  the  young 
fellow)  had  fettled-  It  feems  that  Bob 
had  been  fent  by  fome  of  John  Bull's  family 
to  ere£t  a  iilhing  ftage  on  the.  borders  of 

I  the 


46  THE     FORESTERS. 

the  lake,  and  the  lawyer  who  had  the  care 
of  the  foreft  not  being  acquainted  fo  much 
as  he  ought  to  have  been  with  the  fituatiou 
of  the  lands,  or  having  no  knowledge  of 
the  art-  of  furveying,  had  made  out  a  leafe 
which  lapped  over  Codline's  ;  fo  that  each 
of  them  had  a  claim  upon  the  fame  land. 
In  fome  circumstances  this  might  have  been 
deemed  unfortunate,  but  as  it  happened  it 
proved  lucky  for  poor  Bob.  His  employers 
had  left  him  in  the  lurch,  and  he  would 
have  ftarved  to  death  if  John  had  not  taken 
him  under  his  wing  and  fent  him  provifions 
to  keep  him  alive.  He  alfo  lent  him  a 
hand  to  clear  up  the  bufhes,  and  furnifhed 
him  with  materials  to  build  a  faw-mill. 
This  fet  Bob  on  his  own  legs,  and  he  proved 
a  flurdy  faithful  fellow.  He  was  of  great 
fervice  to  John  in  killing  bears  and  wolve9 
that  infefted  his  plantation  ;  and  when  he 
himfelf  was  in  danger,  John  lent  him  pow- 
der, mot,  and  flints,  and  fent  hands  to  help 
him  ;  and  in  fo  doing  he  ferved  himfelf  as 
well  as  his  neighbour,  which  was  no  breach 
cf  morality.  Thus  they  lived  pretty  peace- 
ably 


THE     FORESTERS.  A7 

ably  together,  till  after  a  while  Bob's  old 
owners  found  the  land  was  grown  good  for 
fomething,  and  then  (without  paying  John 
for  his  a  in  making  it  lb)  appealed 

to  Mr.  Bull,  and  got  it  awny,  and  took  a 
;■*  flice  of  John's  land  into  the  bargain.** 
This  was  a  matter  which  ftuck  in  John's 
throat  a  great  while,  and  if  I  am  rightly  in- 
formed he  has  hardly  fwallowed  it  yet. 
He  did  not  think  himfelf  fairly  dealt  bv, 

me  Pickle's  land 
pnt  into  a  new  leafe  which  Bull  gave  him. 
To  be  (hort,  John  Codliht  and  John  Bull 
never  heartily  loved  one  another ;  they 
were  in  their  temper  and  difpofition  too 
much  alike  ;  each  was  eternally  jealous  of 
the  other  ;  and  this  jealoufy  was  kept  alive 
by  a  variety  oi  incidents  which  it  would  be 
too  tedious  to  enumerate.  One  of  them, 
however,  was  of  lb  fmguiar  a  nature  that 
I  think  it  deferves  to  be  remembered.  It 
was    this.      Lewis  had    erected    a  fifhing 

ftage 
*  The  fettling  the  line  between  Maflachufetts  and 


48  THE     FORESTERS. 

ftage  and  ware-houfe*  on  the  northeaft, 
which  interfered  with  Codline's  favourite 
employment.  Without  confulting  his  old 
Mafter  Bull,  or  waiting  for  his  advice  or 
orders,  Jack  fertt  a  bailiff  with  a  writ  of  in- 
truficn  to  the  iiihermen,  and  began  a  fuit 
in  law.  Mr,  Bull  hearing  of  it,  was  glad 
to  take  advantage  of  the  circumftance^  and 
fee  council  in  the  caufe,  which  finally  went 
in  his  favour.  But  though  the  iffue  of  the 
caufe  was  of.  fo  much  advantage  to  him  ; 
yet  he  ever  after  looked  upon  Codline  as  a 
forward,  meddling  fellow,  for  running  on 
that  errand  before  he  was  fent  y  and  there 
were  not  wanting  perfons.who  were  con- 
tinually buzzing  in  his  ear,  to  keep  a  good 
Jootw  out  on  that  impudent  jackanapes,  ox 
he  would  foon  begin  to  think  himfelf  as 
gocd  a  man  as  his  mafter. 

*  JLouifburg. 


THE     FORESTERS.  ^ 


letter  iv. 

Attempt  ?/" Nicholas  Frog  and  Gustavus 
the  Ironmonger,  to  intrude  into  the  Fore/}.—-' 
Their  quarrel. — Air.  Bull'j  Sicknefs  and 
Delirium.— His  Policy  in  paying  his  Debts* 
— His  Quarrel  with  Frog,  and  its  Ter- 
mination by  Comprontifi. — Plantation  of 
Cart-rut  and  Bare-clay,  called  C^sa- 
rla. — Leafe  to  Charles  Indigo. 


DEAR   SIR, 

IN  my  lad  letter  I  had  got  a  little 
too  forward  in  my  flory,  in  point  of  time  ; 
but  as  I  write  by  piecemeal)  and  often  in  a 
hurry,  you  mull  excufe  chronological  in- 
accuracy. I  now  go  back  to  tell  you,  that 
between  the  lands  occupied  by  Marygold, 
and  thofc  on  which  Plcughlhare  had  made 

his 


50  THE     FORESTERS. 

his  Settlement,  was  a  large  traft  of  wafte, 
where  none  of  Mr.  Bull's  family  had  ever 
been ;  but  the  report  of  the  plantations 
which  one  and  another  of  them  had  made, 
drew  the  attention  of  Bull's  neighbours. 
Among  thefe,  Nicholas  Frog  was  not  an  idle 
Spectator.  He  was  as  fly  a  fellow  as  you 
will  meet  with  in  a  fummer's  day,  always 
attentive  to  his  intereft,  and  never  let  flip 
an  opportunity  to  promote  it.  Obferving 
that  Mr.  Bull  was  rather  earelefs  of  the 
Foreft,  and  trufled  his  lawyers  and  fervants 
with  the  management  of  it,  and  knowing 
there  was  a  large  flice  of  it  unoccupied, 
he  clandeftinely  fent  out  fome  furveyors  in 
the  difguife  of  hunters,  to  make  a  descrip- 
tion of  the  country,  and  report  to  him  at 
their  return.  Another  good  neighbour, 
Gitflavus  the  ironmonger,  was  gaping  after- 
it,  and  gave  out  word  among  his  journey- 
men, that  if  any  of  them  would  adventure 
thither  and  fet  up  their  trade,  he  would 
uphold  them  in  their  pretentions,  and  lend 
them  any  afTiflance  in  his  power.  Accord- 
ingly one  of  them,  by  the  name  of  Cnfimir^ 

ventured. 


THE     FORESTERS.  $i 

ventured  to  make  a  beginning  on  the  fhore 
of  a  navigable  creek  j*  but  did  not  care  to 
penetrate  far  into  the  country,  on  account 
of  the  wolves  and  bears,  which  were  very 
numerous  thereabout.  As  foon  as  Froi? 
heard  of  this,  he  picked  a  quarrel  with 
Guftavus,  and  infilled  that  the  land  was 
his,  by  porTefiion,  becaufe  he  had  already 
fent  furveyors  thither.  It  happened,  how- 
ever, that  the  place  which  Frog's  people 
had  pitched  upon  was  at  the  mouth  of  an- 
other creek,f  at  a  confiderable  diftance ; 
where  they  had  built  a  hut,  on  a  point  of 
land,  and  farther  up  the  creek  had  erected 
a  kind  of  lodge  or  hunting  houfe,t  for  the 
convenience  of  collecting  game.  On  this 
plantation  Frog  had  placed  Peter  Stiver,  a 
one-legged  fellow,  as  his  overfeer.  As 
foon  as  Peter  heard  of  the  quarrel  between 
his  mailer  and  Guftavus,  he  thought  the 
quickeft  way  of  ending  it  was  the  beft  ; 
and  therefore,  without  waiting  for  orders 
or  ceremony,  he  went  and  commanded 
Cafimir  off  the  ground  j  and  with  one  of 

his 
»  The  Delaware.       f  Hudfon's  river.        \  Albany. 


5»  THE     FORESTERS 

his  crutches  beat  his  houfe  to  pieces  about 
his  ears.  The  poor  fellow  flared  at  this 
rough  treatment  j  but  was  glad  to  efcape 
with  whole  bones,  and  humbly  requefted 
leave  to  remain  there  with  his  tools,  prom- 
ising to  follow  his  bufinefs  quietly,  and 
become  an  obedient  fervant  to  Mr.  Frog. 
Upon  thefe  conditions  he  was  permitted  to 
remain,  and  the  whole  tracl:  was  reputed 
Frog's  property.. 

While  thefe  things  were  doing,  Johi* 
Bull  was  confined  to  his  houfe  with  a  vio- 
lent fever  and  delirium,  which  ended  in 
the  hypochondria,*  and  his  imagination  was 
the  feat  of  every  wild  freak  and  ftrange 
vagary.  One  while  he  fancied  himfelf  an  , 
abfolute  monarch ;.  then,  a  prefbyterian  ■ 
clergyman  ;  then  a  general  of  horfe  \  then 
a  lord  protector :  His  noddle  was  filled 
with  a  jumble  of  polemic  divinity,  political 
difputes,  and  military  arrangements,  and 
it  was  not  till  after  much  blood-fetting, 
blrftering,  vomiting,  purging,  cold-bathings 

and 
*  The  civil  wars,  in  England. 


-THE     FORESTERS.  51 

and  horfe-trotting,  that  lie  began  to  mend. 
Under  this  fevere  but  wholefome  regimen, 
he  at  length  grew  cool  and  came  to  him- 
fi  if,  but  found  on  his  recovery  that  his  af- 
fairs had  gone  behind  hand  during  his 
^icknefs.  Befide  the  lofs  of  bufinefs,  he 
had  phyficians*  and  apothecaries'  bills  to 
pay,  and  thofe  who  had  attended  upon 
him  as  nuries,  watchers,  porters,  occ.  all 
expecled  wages  or  douceurs,  and  were  con- 
tinually haunting  him  with,  "  How  does 
your  honor  do  ?  I  am  glad  to  fee  your 
honor  fo  well  as  to  be  abroad."  They  were 
continually  putting  themfelves  in  his  way, 
•and  if  they  did  not  directly  dun  him  for 
■payment,  their  looks  were  £o  fignificant 
that  a  man  of  left,  penetration  could  eafiiy 
e  gueficd  what  was  their  meaning. 

Bull  was  fon^ewhat  perplexed  how  to 
nnfwer  all  their  demands  and  expectations 
He  was  too  far  behind  hand  to  be  able  to 
fatisfy  them,  and  withal  too  generous  to 
Jet  them  remain  unpaid.  At  length  he 
hit  on  tills  expedient :  "  Thcfe  fellows,  faid 

J* 


54  THE     FORESTERS. 

he  to  himfelf,  have  ferved  me  well,  and 
may  be  of  ufe  to  me  again.  Theie  is  yet 
a  eonfiderabie  part  of  my  tcreft  unoccupied. 
I'll  offer  to  ieaie  them  tracts  of  land  which 
of:  me  nothing)  and  if  they  will  accept  them 
at  a  low  rent,  they  may  prove  ufel'ul  fer- 
vants,  and  Iihall  be  a  gainer  as  well  a8 
thev."  Having  come  to  this  refolution,  he 
began  to  inquire  into  the  affairs  of  his  for- 
eft,  and  found  that  his  neighbours  had  in- 
truded upon  his  claim.  Lewis  had  taken 
poffeffion  at  one  end  ;*  Lord  Strut  at  ths 
other  ;f  Nicholas  Frog  in  the  middie5|  and 
his  own  tenants  had  heen  quarrelling  with 
their  new  neighbours,  as  well  as  among 
themfelves.  "  Hey-day  !  fays  John,  this 
will  never  do  ;  I  muff  keep  a  good  look 
out  upon  thefe  dogs,  or  they  will  get  the 
advantage  of  me."  Away  he  goes  to  Frog, 
and  begun  to  complain  of  the  ill  treatment 
-which  he   had  received.     Frcg,  who   had 

no 

*  Canada,  pofTefTed  by  the  French. 

•f  Flcrk!.:,  pofTefTed  by  the  Spaniards. 
i  New  Amfteadam  and  the  New  .Nuhci lands,  by 
the  U-i.id\. 


THE     FORESTERS.  55 

ho  mmd  either  to  quarrel,  or  to  cry  peccavi, 
like  a  fly,  evafive  whore- fon  as  he  was, 
fli rugged  up  his  moulders,  difowned  what 
his  fervants  had  done,  and  faid,  (i  he  fup- 
pofed  they  only  meant  to  kill  game,  and 
did  not  intend  to  hold  pofleflion."  Bull 
Was  not  to  be  put  off  fo  •,  his  blood  was 
up,  and  he  determined  to  treat  Frog's  fer- 
vants as  they  had  treated  Cafimir.  So, 
Galling  a  trufty  old  flud  out  of  his  compting 
houfe,  "  Here  Bob,*  faid  he,  take  one  o£ 
my  hunters  with  a  pair  of  blood-hounds,' 
and  go  to  that  part  of  the  forefl  where  Pe- 
ter Stiver  has  encroached,  give  him  fair 
Warning  ;  tell  him  the  land  is  mine,  and 
I  will  have  it ;  if  he  gives  up  at  once, 
treat  him  well,  and  tell  him  I'll  give  him 
leave  to  remain  there ;  but  if  he  offers  to 
make  any  refiftance,  or  hefitates  about  an 
anfwer,  fet  your  dogs  at  him  and  drive 
him  off;  kill  his  cattle,  and  {^t  his  houfe 
on  fire  :  Never  fear,  I'll  bear  you  out  in  it." 
Away  goes  Bob,  and  delivered  his  meffage. 

Peter 

*  Sir  Robert  Carr'a  expedition  againft  New  Am- 
lam,  now  New  York, 


56  THE     FORESTERS. 

Peter  at  firft  thought  it  a  matter  of  amufe- 
ment,  and  began  to  divert  himfelf  With  it ; 
but  as  foon  as  the  dogs  opened  upon  him, 
he  found  his  miflake,  and  rather  than  run 
the  rilk  of  being  driven  off,  he  quietly  fub- 
mitted  to  the  conditions  propofecL  "  Hang 
it,  faid  he  to  himfelf,  what  care  I  who  is 
my  landlord  ?  Gain  is  my  object  -,  I  have 
already  been  at  great  expenfe,  and  have  a 
profpecl:  of  getting  an  eftate.  To  remove 
will  ruin  me  ;  I'll  therefore  flay  here,  and 
make  money  under  Bull,  or  Frog,  or  any 
ether  mafler  that  will  let  me  ftay." 

In  a  fubfequent  quarrel  which  happened 
between  Bull  and  Frog,  the  latter  feized 
upon  this  plantation  again,  and  Peter  re- 
cognized his  old  mafter  •,  but  upon  a  com- 
promife  it  was  given  up  to  Bull  in  exchange 
for  a  tracl:  of  fwamp*  which  lay  far  to  the 
fbuthward.  Peter  continued  on  the  ground 
through  all  thefe  changes,  and  followed  his 
bufmefs  with  great  diligence,  collecting 
game  and  pelts,  and  vending  them  fome- 

times 
*  Surriaaqi, 


THE     FORESTERS.  57 

•times  to  Mr.  Bull,  and  fometimes  to  Mr. 
Frog.  However,  Bull  thought  it  bed, 
that  in  token  of  fubjection,  he  fhould 
change  his  name  ;  to  which  he  confented, 
and  partly  to  pleafe  his  new  mailer,  and 
partly  to  retain  the  remembrance  of  his  old 
one,  he  dropped  the  name  of  Stiver,  and  ai- 
fumed  the  name  of  Bui/frog. 

The  whole  tract  which  was  thus  gotten 
from  Frog,  was  thought  too  large  for  one 
plantation,  and  therefore  Mr.  Bull,  in  pur- 
fuance  of  the  plan  which  he  had  formed,  ap- 
propriated the  rents  of  the  plantation,  on 
which  Bullfrog  was  feated,  to  his  brother,* 
and  the  other  was  leafed  to  two  of  his  fer- 
vants,  Cart-rut  and  Bare-clay,  and  fome 
time  after  another  tract  was  fet  off  to  Wil- 
liam Broadbrim,  whofe  father  had  been 
an  affiduous  rat-catcher  in  Bull's  family; 
but  more  of  this  hereafter. 

Cart-rut  and  Bare-clay  agreed  to  divide 
-their  land  into  two  farms,  which  the v  c:.'.i- 
E  ed 

■  Duke  of  York. 


j8  THE     FORESTERS. 

ed  the  eaft  and  weft  farms*,  but  when  they 
came  to   run  the  divifion  line,   their  com- 
pares differed  fo  much  that  they  could  not 
fix  the  boundary.     This  was   one  caufe  of 
diffention.     Another  was  the  different  hu- 
mours  and   difpofitions   of  their  families.. 
Thole  on  the  eaft  farm   were  brought  up- 
under  Mr.  Bull's  filter  Peg,   and  as  it   is 
well  known   that  fhe   and  her  brother  had, 
long   been  at  variance,   fo   their  domeftics^ 
had  got  tinctured  with  the  notions  and  prej- 
udices of  their  refpecT:ive  families..     The: 
family  on  the  weft  farm  was  made  up  o£ 
perfons  who  were  fubjecl  to   the  epidemic 
ague  or  fhaking  palfy  \*   with  fome  ftrag— 
glers  from  Bullfrog's  and  Cafimir's  families*- 
From  this  divcrfity  of  conftitutions  and  hu- 
mours arofe  bickerings  and  quarrels,  a  dis- 
inclination to  work  and  fubmit   to  family, 
government.     Thefe  diforders  continued  a 
long  while,  and  bufmefs  went  on  very  flow— 
ly,  till  at  length  the  heads  of  both  families 
agreed  to  give  up  their  feparate  leafcs,   and 
take  a  new  one  of  the  whole,  and  let  Mr,. 

Bull 

*  The  Quakers, 


THE     FORESTERS.  r? 

Bull  appoint  an  overfeer.  By  thefe  means 
peace  was  reitored,  and  the  new  overfeer, 
who  was  fuppofed  to  be  a  defeendant  of  a 
natural  fon  of  Julius  C^sar,  gave  the 
name  of  his  anceftor  to  the  farm,  which 
has  ever  fince  been  called  C/Esakea. 

There  was  another  portion  of  the  for- 
eft,  which  lay  fouthward  ot  Walter  Pipe- 
weed's  plantation,  ai.d  which  no  perfon 
had  yet  taken  up,  though  fome  had  made 
attempts  and  had  been  driven  off  by  the 
numberlefs  mufquetoes  and  land-Pies,  which 
abound  in  thofe  places.  Mr.  Bull  was  Hill 
defirous  to  reward  his  friends  in  the  cheapeft 
manner,  and  at  the  fame  time  to  keep  his 
neighbours  from  encroaching  upon  him, 
and  fecure  the  poffefiion  of  the  forcft  to 
himfelf.  In  purfuance  of  his  plan,  and  to 
make  fhort  work  of  it  at  once,  he  leafed 
the  whole  of  this  fouthern  extremity  to 
Chari.es  Indigo,  who  was  exprefsly  order- 
ed to  take  under  his  care  and  into  his  fami- 
ly all  perfons  who  had  attended  Mr.  Bull, 
in  his  late  ftcknefs,  in  quality  of  hurfes, 
E  2  druggiffej 


6*  THE     FORESTERS, 

druggifts,  apothecaries,  laundreffes,  uphol- 
fters,  porters,  watchers,  &c.  &c.  By  this 
order  Charles  found  himfelf  at  once  fur- 
rounded  by  a  large  body  of  retainers  of 
various  ranks  and  qualities,  and,  being  a 
fpeculator  himfelf,  he  employed  a  fpecula- 
tive  man,  Mr.  Pad/ock,  who  had  written  a 
large  treatife  upon  Ideas,  to  draw  up  fome 
rules,  for  the  management  of  fuch  a  fami- 
ly, intending  when  he  mould  build  an 
houfe,  to  paile  it  up  in  the  parlour,  as  a  di- 
rectory to  his  wife.  Accordingly  Mr.  Pad- 
lock went  to  work,  and  with  an  exquifite 
mixture  of  political  and  metaphyfical  knowl- 
edge, diftinguifhed  between  the  hall,  the  par- 
lour, the  drefling-room,  the  gallery,  the  mu- 
fic-room,  the  bed-chambers,  the  chapel, 
the  kitchen,  the  water-clofet,  &c.  ihewing 
what  was  to  be  done  in  each,  and  the  prop- 
er fubordination  of  one  to  the  other,  all 
which  would  have  been  of  excellent  fervice 
in  a  palace,  and  among  people  who  had  got 
to  a  high  degree  of  refinement,  but  was  ill 
iuited.to  the  circumflances  of  new  adven- 
turers 


THE     FORESTERS.  (i 

Hirers  in  a  foreft.  They  rather  needed  to 
be  i'litiucted  in  the  method  of  felling  trees, 
draining  fvvamps,  digging  clams,  guard- 
ing againft  mufquetoes,  killing  wolves  and 
bears,  and  erecting  huts  to  keep  off  the 
weather.  To  thefe  neceiTary  affairs  they 
were  obliged  to  attend,  and  Mr.  Padlock's 
fine  fpun  rules  were  laid  by  and  little 
thought  of. 

Charles  had  pitched  upon  a  fandy 
point,  between  two  brooks,  for  his  mnnfion 
houfe,  and  had  made  a  fmall  beginning, 
when  his  repofe  was  difturbed  by  one  Au- 
gustine, a  lubberly  fellow,  who  had  taken 
a  leafe  of  Lord  Strut,  and  lived  farther 
ftmthwarfl.  This  Strut  was  the  largelt 
landholder  in  the  country,  and  was  never 
fetisfied  v/ith  adding  field  to  field.  He  had 
already  got  much  mere  than  he  could  man- 
age, and  had  greatly  impoverished  hi- 
homelb.  id  by  attending  to  his  extra  territo- 
ries. His  tenants  were  infected  with  the 
fame  land  fever,  and  wifiied  to  have  no- 
neighbour*  within  fight  or  call.     "With  this 

envious 


6*  THE     FORESTERS. 

envious  difpofition,  Auguftine  collected  a 
rabble  of  louiy  fellows,  and  was  coming  to 
difpofiefs  Charles,  thinking  him  too  weak 
to  make  a  defence ;  but  Charles  was  a  lad 
of  too  much  fpunk  to  be  brow-beaten.  He 
armed  all  his  people  with  fome  weapon  or 
other,  and  advanced  till  he  came  with- 
in Tight  of  the  place  where  Augufline  was, 
who,  on  feeing  him,  took  wit  in  his  anger, 
and  went  back,  without  attempting  any 
mifchief. 

Another  difficulty  which  Charles  ex- 
pected to  encounter  was  from  the  wild 
beads  ;  but  luckily  for  him,  thefe  creatures 
got  into  a  quarrel  among  themfelves,  and 
fought  with  each  other  till  they  had  thin- 
ned their  numbers  confiderably,  fo  that 
Charles  and  his  companions  could  venture 
into  the  woods,  where  they  caught  fome 
few  and  tamed  them,  as  was  the  ufual  prac- 
tice among  all  Mr.  Bull's  tenants  at  that 
day.  Of  this  practice  a  more  particular  ac- 
count ihall  be  given  in  my  next  letter. 


THE     rO'RE-RTERS.  63 


letter  V. 

Mr.  BullV  Project  of  taming  wi/J  Animals* 
——Its  Execution  b\  his  Tenants. — Their  dif- 
ferent Notions  and  Conducl  in  this  Matter. 


DEAR  SIR, 

X  OU  mull  have  remarked  in  your 
acquaintance  with  the  life  and  character  of 
Mr.  John  Bull,  that  he  is  very  whimfical, 
and  as  pofitive  as  \rhimfical.  Among  oth- 
er advantages  which  he  expected  from  the 
fettlement  of  his  Foreft,  one  was,  that  the 
wild  animals,  whom  nature  had  made  fero- 
cious and  untraceable  in  the  higheft  degree, 
would  be  rendered  tame  and  ferviceable,  by 
receiving  inftruclion  and  education  from  the 
nurturing  hand  of  humanity.  He  had  con- 
ceived a  notion  that  every  creature  has  cert  sun 

latent 


M  THE     FORESTERS. 

latent  principles  and  qualities  which  form 
a  foundation  for  improvement  ;  and  he 
thought  it  a  great  piece  of  injuftice  that 
thefe  qualities  fhould  be  furrered  to  remain 
uncultivated  :  he  had  a  mind  that  experi- 
ments mould  be  attempted  to  difcover  how 
far  this  kind  of  cultivation  was  practicable, 
and  what  ufe  could  be  made  of  the  animal 
powers  under  the  direction  and  control  of 
rational  government.  Full  of  this  idea,  he 
came  to  a  refolution,  that  it  mould  be  the 
duty  of  every  one  of  his  tenants  to  catch 
wild  beafts  of  various  forts,  and  difcipline 
them  fo  as  to  find  out  their  feveral  proper- 
ties and  capacities,  and  ufe  them  accord- 
ingly ;  and  this  kind  of  fervice  was  men- 
tioned in  their  refpe&ive  leafes  as  one  con- 
dition of  the  grants. 

Some  of  the  tenants,  particularly  Pere- 
grine Pickle,  John  Codline,  and  Humphry 
Ploughfhare,  entered  zealoufly  into  the  meaf- 
ure  from  principle.  They  had,  during  Mr. 
Bull's  ficknefs  and  delirium,  before  fpoken 
of,  formed  an  aiicciation  for  their  mutual 

fafcty. 


THE     FORESTERS.  6js 

fafety.*  The  object  of  their  union  was. 
two  fold  :  firft,  to  endeavour  by  all  fair 
means  to  tame  and  difciplme  the  wild 
beafts  ;  and  fecondly,  in  cafe  of  their  prov- 
ing refractory,  to  defend  themfelves  againft 
their  attacks.  The  other  tenants  did  fome- 
thing  in  the  fame  way  ;  fome  from  one 
principle,  and  fome  from  another.  Peter 
Bullfrog,  who  was  as  cunning  as  any  of. 
them,  made  ufe  of  thoie  which  he  had. 
tame.',  as  his  caterers,  to  provide  game  for. 
his  table,  of  which  the  feathers  and  furs 
ferved  him  as  articles  of  traffic,  and  brought 
him  in  a  profitable  return. 

The  principal  confederation  (fetting  afide. 
interell)  which  induced  the  more  zealous 
of  the  Foretters  to  enter  into  this  bufmefs,. 
was  an  idea-  that  thefe  animals  were  a  de- 
generated part  of  the  human  fpecies,  and. 
might  be  reftored  to. their  proper  rank  and 
order,  if  due  pains  were  taken.  The  grounds 
of  this  opinion  were  thefe  :  Among  the 
traditions  of  the  ancient  Druids  there  was 

a  ftoiy,.' 

'   The  united  colonies  of  New  England,  1643. 


66  THE     FORESTERS. 

a  flory,  that  out  of  tivck-c  families  which 
inhabited  a  certain  diftric"t  by  themfelves, 
ten  had  been  loft,  and  no  account  could  be 
given  of  them  ;  ond,  where, -faid  they,  is  it 
more  likely  to  find  them  than  in  this  foreft, 
in  the  fhape  of  fome  other  creatures  ?  efpe- 
cially,  if  the  doctrine  cf  transmigration; 
which  the  Druids  held,. be  true.  Another 
tradition' was,  that  one  of  Mr.  Bull's  great- 
great-uncles,  by  the  "name  of  Afadok,  had 
many  years  ago  difappeared,  and  the  I  aft 
account  which  had  been  received  of  him 
was,  that  he  had  been  feen  going  .towards 
this  foreft  j  hence  it  was  concluded  that  his 
defendants  mud  be  found  here,  in  con- 
firmation of  this  argument,  it  was  alleged, 
that  the  founds  which  fome  of  thefe  crea- 
tures made  in  their  howlings,  refembled  the 
language  fpoken  in  that  day  :  nay,  fome 
were  pofitive  that  they  had  heard  them  pro- 
nounce the  word  Mndokaivando -;*  and  one 
hunter  roundly  fwore  that  he  had  (ecn 
m  the  den  of  a  bear,  an  old  book  which  he 
fuppofed  to  be  a  Bible** written- in  the  Celtic 

language, 
*  The  name  of  a  Sachem,  at  Penobfcot. 


THE     FORESTERS.  67 

language,  and  this  book  they  concluded 
muft  have  been  left  there  by  Madok,  who 
could  read  and  fpeak  no  other  language. 
Another  very  material  circumftance  was 
the  difcovery  of  a  reck  by  the  fide  of  a 
brook,*  inferibed  with  fome  characters 
which  bore  no  refemblancc  to  any  kind  of 
writing,  ancient  or  modern  ;  the  conclufion 
from  hence  was,  that  it  muft  be  of  the  re- 
moter! antiquity  :  this  rock  was  deemed  an 
unaccountable  curiofity,  till  a  certain  virtu- 
ofo  took  it  into  his  noddle,  firft  to  imagine, 
and  then  to  become  extremely  pofitive  that 
the  characters  were  Punic  ;  and  finally  this 
infeription  was  tranflated,  and  affirmed  to 
be  nothing  lefs  than  a  treaty  of  alliance  and 
commerce  between  the  Pkemrians  and  the 
firft  inhabitants  of  this  foreft.  From  all 
•thefe  premifes  it  was  inferred,  with  fome 
plaufibility,  and  more  pofitivenefs,  that  one 
.fpecies  at  lead  of  the  favage  animals  wai 
.defcended  from  Madok,  and  that  the  others 
were  the  pofterity  of  the  long  loft  ten  fam- 
ilies, who  were  well  known  to  have  had  a 

.commercial 
*  The  celebrated  rock  at  Dighton,  in  Maffachufett* 


g<  THE     FORESTERS. 

commercial  connexion  with  the  PhenicianS) 
and  that  thefe  probably  found  out  their 
haunt,  and  followed  them  for  the  fake  of 
their  former  friendmip.— What  happy 
light  do  modern  difcoveries  and  conjectures 
throw  on  the  dark  pages  of  antiquity. 

From  thefe  principles,-  as  well  as  from 
motives  of  humanity  and  of  intereft,  fome 
of  the  Forefters  entered  with  zeal  on  the 
confideration  and  practice  of  the  belt  meth- 
ods to  fulfil  this  condition  of.  their  grants, 
the  difciplining  of  the  favage  animals,  and 
they  certainly  deferve  praife  for  their  honeft 
endeavours  ;  but,  others  who  pretended  to 
the  fame  zeal,  it  is  to  be  lamented,  made 
uie  cf  this  pretence  to  cover  their  vanity 
or  their  avarice.  Had  none  but  gentle 
means  been  ufed,  it  is  probable  more  good 
inight,  on  the  whole,  have  been  produced  ; 
but  as  it  often  happens  that  many  a  good 
project  has  been  ruined  for  want  of  pru- 
dence in  the  execution,  fo  it  fared  with  this  ; 
for  while  the  new  comers  were  bufy  in 
;!'g  up  their  huts,   and  preparing  the 

land. 


THE     FORESTERS.  69 

land  for  cultivation,  both  of  which  were 
neceffary  before  they  could  attend  to  any- 
other  bufmefs,  fome  of  the  favage  tribe 
would  be  a  little  impertinent,  either  by 
peeping  into  the  huts,  or  breaking  up  a 
nelt  where  the  poultry  were  hatching,  or 
carrying  off  a  chick  or  a  gofling.  Thefe 
impertinencies  bred  frequent  quarrels,  and 
the  poor  creatures  were  fometimes  driven 
off  with  bloody  notes,  or  obliged  to  hop  on 
three  legs,  or  even  laid  fprawling  and  flyly 
covered  with  earth,  no  fervice  or  ceremony 
being  faid  ever  the  carcafs,  and  no  other 
epitaph,  than  "  Poh,  they  are  nothing  but 
brutes,  and  where's  the  harm  of  killing 
them  !"   or  in  rhyme  thus  : 

"  Tit  for  tat,  tit  for  tat, 

"  He  ftole  my  chicle,  an  J  I  broke  his  back.'*' 

Whatever  plaufibic  excufes  might  have 
teen  made  for  thefe  proceedings,  they  feiv- 
ed  to  render  the  creatures  jealous  of  their 
new  neighbours;  but  inlteadof  abating 
r  appetite  for  mifchief,  it  fharpened 
.ihrir  invention  to  take  more  fly  methods  of 

accomplifhing 


?o  THE     FORESTER?. 

accomplifhing  it.  The  more  wary  of  them 
kept  aloof  in  the  day  time,  and  would  not 
be  enticed  by  the  arts  which  were  ufed  to 
draw  them  in  ;  however,  they  were  fome- 
times  pinched  for  food,  and  the  new  inhab- 
itants ufed  to  throw  crufts  of  bread,  hand- 
fuls  of  corn,  and  other  eatables,  in  their 
way,  v/hich  allured  them  by  degrees  to 
familiarity.  After  a  while  it  was  found 
that  nothing  fucceeded  fo  well  as  molnjfes. 
It  was  therefore  thought  a  capital  manoeu- 
vre to  drop  a  train  of  it  on.  the  ground,, 
which  the  creatures  would  follow,,  licking 
it,  till  they  had  infenfibly  got  up  to  the 
doors  of  the  houfes,  where  if  any  body  held 
a  bowl  or  a  plate  befmeared  with  the 
liquor,  they  would  come  and  put  their 
nofes  into  it,  and  then  you  might  pat.  them 
on  the  back  and  fides,  or  ftroke  them,  fay- 
ing, "  Poor  Bruin,  poor  Ifgrim,  poor  Rey- 
nard, poor  Pufs,"  and  the  like,  and  they 
would  fuiTer  themfelves  to  be  handled  and- 
fondled  till  they  dropped  afieep.  When 
they  awaked,  they  would  make  a  moan  and 
*,vag  their,  tails,,  as  if  they  were  afking  for 

more. 


THE     FORESTERS.  71 

more,  and  if  it  was  denied  them,  they 
would  retire  to  the  woods  in  difgufl,  till 
the  fcent  of  the  mobiles  operating  on  their 
depraved  appetites,  invited  them  to  return 
where  it  was  to  be  had..  This  was,  upon 
repeated  trial,  found  to  be  the  moll  effect- 
ual way  of  taming  them,  as  they  might  be 
taught  to  imitate  any  kind  of  tricks  and 
gcilures,  if  a  dim  of  mobiles  was  held  out 
as  a  reward.. 

The  Foreflers  knew  that  they  could  nor/ 
ingratiate  themfelves  better  with  their  old 
mailer  Bull,  than  by  humouring  his  itch 
for  projects.  They  therefore  took  care  to 
raiie  reports  and  write  letters  from  time 
to  time  concerning  the  wonderful  fuccefs 
which  they  had  met  with  in  civilizing  the 
lavage  animals.  Bull  was  greatly  pleafed' 
with  thefe  reports,  and  made  a  practice  or 
fending  prefents  of  trinkets  to  be  diltributed; 
among  them  ;  inch  as  collars,  ear-rings, 
and  ncfe-jewels.  Several  times  fome  of 
the  mod  (lately,  and  bell  inftrwEfced  of  them 
were  carried  to  Iris  houfe  for  a  ftow,  where 

he 


tfz  THE     FORESTERS. 

he  had  them  drefled  up  in  fcarlet  and  gold 
trappings,  and  led  through  all  his  apart*- 
ments  for  the  entertainment  of  his  family, 
and  feafted  with  every  nick-nack  which  his 
cook  and  confectioner  could  procure.  He 
was  fo  fond  of  being  thought  their  patron 
and  protector,  that  he  ufually  fpoke  of  them 
as  his  red  children,  from  the  colour  of  their 
hides.  It  is  not  many  years  fince  one  of 
them,  after  being  led  through  ieveral  fam- 
ilies and  plantations  of  the  tenants,  was 
.carried  by  a  certain  witty  cur,  to  Mr.  Bull's 
own  houfe,  drefled  in  the  habit  of  a  clergy^- 
7natj,  having  been  .previoufly  taught  to  lift 
his  paws  and  roll  his  eyes,  as  if  in  the  acl: 
of  devotion.  This  trick  was  fo  well  carried 
on,  that  the  managers  of  it  picked  up  a  large 
pocket  full  of  pence,  by  exhibiting  him  for 
a  raree-fhowj  and  the  money  was  applied 
toward  building  a  menagerie,  to  which  beafts 
of  all  kinds  might  be  brought  and  tamed. 
This  projccl.,  like  many  fuch  whims,  has 
made  more  noiie  than  profit  ;  for  moft  of 
thofe  who  were  fuppofed  to  be  tamed  and 
domefticated,  after,  they  had  been.fent  back 


THE     TORESTER?.'  73 

to  their  native  woods,  with  a  view  to  their 
being  inftrumental  in  taming  their  fellow 
favages,  have  returned  to  their  former  fe- 
rocious habits,  and  fome  of  them  have 
proved  greater  rogues  than  ever,  and  have 
done  more  miichief  than  they  could  other- 
wile  have  been  capable  of. 

Mr.  Dull  himfelf  was  once  fo  full  of  the 
project,  that  he  get  his  chaplain  and  lbme 
others  to  form  themfelves  into  a  club  ;  the 
profeiled  object,  of  which  was,  to  prop,  •. 
immrfcdge  among  theie  favage  creatures. 
After  ibme  trials,  which  did  not  anfwer  ex- 
pectation, old  Madam  Bull  conceived  that 
the  money  which  was  collected  might  as 
well  be  expended  in  teaching  Mr.  Bull's 
own  tenants  themfelves  a  little  better  man- 
ners \  for  fome  of  them  were  rather  awk- 
ward and  flovenly  in  their  deportment, 
while  others  were  decent  and  devout  in 
their  own  way.  Madam,  as  we  have  before 
obferved,  was  a  great  zealot  in  the  caufe  of 
uniformity!  and  had  a  vafl  influence  over 
her  fon,  by  virtue  of  which,  the  attention  of 
F  the 


74  THE     FORESTER  S. 

the  club  was  principally  directed  to  the* 
promoting  of  this  grand  objetl.  Accord- 
ingly, every  one  cf  the  tenants  was  furnifh- 
ed  with  a  Bible  and  a  Prayer  Book,  a  clean 
napkin,  bnfon,  platter,  and  chalice,  with  a 
few  devotional  tracts,  and  fome  young  ad- 
venturers who  had  been  educated,  in  the 
family,  were  recommended  as  chaplains  ; 
who  had  alfo  by-orders  to  keep  a  look  out 
toward  the  favagc  animals,  when  they  fhould 
fall  in  their  way. 

The  chaplains  were  tolerably  well  receiv- 
ed in  mod  of  the  families  ;  but  fome,  par- 
ticularly Codline  and  Ploughfhare,  who 
gloried  in  being  able  to  fay  their  prayers 
without  hooky  always  looked  four  upon  them, 
and  would  frequently  fay  to  them,  "  Go, 
take  care  of  the  favage  objects  of  your  mi> 
fion,  and  don't  come  here  to  teach  us,  till 
you  have  learned  better  yourfelves."  The 
chaplains  in  difgufl,  and  perhaps  in  revenge, 
(for  they  were  but  men  of  like  pafTions) 
would  pout  and  fweii  and  call  fchifmatic  and 
other  canonical  nick-names,  of  which  there 

i? 


THE     FORESTERS. 

is  extant  a  large  vocabulary,  and  would  fre- 
quently write  letters,  much  to  the  dllad- 
vantageof  their  opponents.  It  is  not  many 
years  fmce  they,  with  the  club  which  fenl 
them,  were  pretty  fevercly  handled  by  or, ■• 
of  Codlinc's  own  chaplains,*  and  it  is  ; 
pofed  that  they  have  ever  fmce  been  more 
niodefv,  ;  certain  it  is,  that  they  are  now  on 
better  terms  with  their  neighbours  than 
formerly  ;  this  may,  in  part,  be  owing  to 
Mr.  Bull's  deferring  fhem  and  refufm » 
pay  them  for  their  fervices  ever  fmce  ihe 
time  that  he  began  to  quarrel  with  his  ten- 
ants. On  that  occafion  fome  of  them  re- 
moved their  quarters  ;  others  liept  their  old 
places,  and  have  got  along  as  well  as  they 
could -without  the  help  which  they  formerly 
received. 

*  Dr.  M-v-w. 


F* 


76  THE     FORESTERS. 


letter  vl 

Adventures  of  Charles  Indigo  and  Peter 
Pitch. — Charatler  of  William  Broad- 
brim.  His   Projects,  Principles,    and  a 

Specimen  of  his  Harangues, 


DEAR   SIR, 

1  HAVE  obferved  in  a  former. let- 
ter, that  the  leafe  which  Mr.  Bull  gave  to 
Charles  Indigo,  obliged  him  to  receive  into 
his  family  all  fuch  perfons  as  had  been  at- 
tendants on  Mr.  Bull  during  his  ficknefs, 
and  for  whom  he  had  no  other  means  of 
providing.  This  general  indulgence  pro- 
cured to  Charles  the  reputation  of  a  very- 
friendly,  hofpitable  perfon,  and  induced 
great  numbers  of  other  people  of  various 
characters,  views,  and  iuterefts,  to  feek  an 

afylum 


THE     FORESTERS.  7? 

afylum  within  his  limits.  About  this  time 
Mr.  Lewis  had  grown  Tick  and  peevifh,  and 
had  fcverely  cudgelled  fome  of  his  appren- 
tices, becaufc  they  did  not  make  their  Ivs 
and  CVs  exactly  to  Iiis  mind.*  The  poor 
fellows,  to  prevent  worle  treatment,  fled 
from  his  houfe,  and  took  refuge  with  Mr. 
Bull,  who  treated  them  civilly,  and  recom- 
mended them  to  the  Fereft,  where  they 
difperfed  thcmfelves  in  the  ieveral  families 
of  his  tenants,  and  a  large  party  of  them 
took  up  their  abode  with  Charles,  to  whom 
they  proved  an  induflrious,  profitable  ac- 
quisition, though  fome  of  the  family  looked 
a  little  fourly  upon  them* 

This  facility  of  admitting  flrangers  pro- 
duced an  effect  which  had  almoit  pr 
fatal  to  the  reputation  of  the  family ;  for  a 
number  of  highwaymen  aifo  fought  flicker 
there,  and  by  means  of  their  gold  and  filver, 
which  they  had  in  plenty,  made  friends 
in  the  houfe,   and  were  admitted  by  night 

at 

*  Rt\  N:.:itz,  by  Lewis  XIV, 


;8  THE     FORESTERS. 

at  ?  back  door.  After  a  while  they  grew 
mere  bold,  and  came  in  the  day  time,  un- 
der the  difguiic  cf  pedlars,  with  packs  on 
;•  moulders*  One  of  them  actually 
took  his  ftand  behind  a  corner  of  one  of 
the  fences,  from  whence  he  fallied  out  on 
travellers ;  this  corner  obtained,  from  that 
circumfbnee,  the  name  of  Cape  Fev.r ;  ancf 
as  the  hrft  names  of  places  are  not  eafily 
got  rid  of,  it  retains  the  name  to  this  day, 
and  perhaps  will  ever  retain  it.  Here  the 
rafcal  intended  to  have  built  himfelf  a  lodge, 
and  taken  up  his  quarters  for  life ;  but  the 
matter  was  now  grown  fo  public,  that 
Charles,  for  the  honour  of  his  family,  or- 
dered all  ftragglers  to  be  feized,  and  this 
fellow  in  particular,  after  a  fevere  ftrug- 
gle,  was  apprehended  and  brought  to  jut- 
tice. 

The  fame  fpot  was  afterward  taken  pof- 
femon  of  by  Peti:r  Pitch,  a  poor  fellow 
who  got  his  living  as  he  did  his  name, 
from  collecting  the  refmous  juice  of  the 
numerous    pines  which  grew  thereabout. 

He 


T  II  2     FORESTERS.  79 

He  had  to  work  hafd  and  fare  hard,  and 
go  a  great  way  for  his  victuals  and  clothes  ', 
but  after  he  had  lived  alone  for  fome  time, 
he  picked  up  one  or  two  acquaintances  of 
his  own  (lamp,  and  they  formed  a  family, 
which  was  at  firft  rather  diferderly.  Far- 
ther difcovery  of  the  lands,  and  the  advan- 
tage of  the  water  carriage,  induced  fome 
other  people  to  fit  down  by  him,  and  in 
procefs  of  time  he  became  fo  refpectable 
as  to  be  noticed  by  Mr,  Bull,  who,  though 
he  never  gave  him  a  leafe  in  form,  yet  let 
him  have  cloth  and  haberdaihery  upon 
credit,  and  took  his  pitch  in  payment  as 
fail  as  he  could  collect  it.  This  kept  him 
in  a  dependent  itatc,  and  fubjected  him  to 
impofitions  from  Bull's  clerks  and  journev- 
Tneu.  About  five  and  twenty  years  age, 
Bull  fent  him  a  taylor  to  try  on  a  new  coat,* 
which  was  fo  firait  that  it  fplrt  in  feveral 
places,  and  never  could  be  altered  (o  as  to 
fit  him  j  but  he  was  obliged  to  wear  it, 
rather  than  quarrel  with  his  patron.  Th"s 
fame  taylor  was  remarkable  for  cabbage 

as 
•  lafurredions  is  North  Carolina,  17 -1. 


80  THE     FORESTERS. 

as  Peter  Bullfrog   and  Humphry  Plough- 
fhare  have  finee  had  large  experience. 

To  finifh  what  relates  to  Charles  Indigo, 
I  (hall  obferve,  that  the  land  on  which  he 
began  his  plantation,  was  in  general  fo  wet 
and  miry,  that  it  was  unfavourable  to  the 
production  of  wheat,  and  it  was  for  fome 
time  doubtful  whether  he  would  be  able  to 
raife  his    own  bread.      Chance   at  length 
effected  what  labour  and  ingenuity  could 
not  :    a  bird    of    paffage  having  dropped 
fome  kernels  of  rice  in  his  dung,  it  was 
found  to  thrive  exceedingly  well  \    from 
whence  the  hint  was  taken,  and  rice  became 
the  frandard  grain  of  the  plantation.     By 
the  cultivation  of  this,  and  of  a  weed  which 
was  ufeful  to  the  dyers,  he  grew  rich,  and 
made  a  rightly  figure  among  his  neighbours 
in  point  of  dreis  and  equipage  ;     though 
his  countenance  is  rather  fallow,  and  he  is 
(abject  to    frequent  returns  of  the  inter- 
mittent fever. 

B* 


THE     FORESTERS.  ft 

By  the  extenfive  leafc  given  to  Indigo 
and  his  affociates,  molt  of  Mr.  Bull's  de- 
pendants and  attendants  were  provided  for, 
and  their  iervices  reconrpenfed  with  a  fhew 
of  generosity  on  his  part,  and  of  fatisfac- 
tion  on  theirs-.  I  have  before  jiilt  hinted 
at  a  grant  made  to  William  Broadbrim, 
of  which  I  ihall  now  give  a  more  particu- 
lar account- 

His  father  had  been  an  old  fen-ant  of 
Mr.  BuJl>.  and  had  been  employed  in  the 
very  laborious  and  necefl'ary  bufinefs  of 
catching  and  killing  rats.  In  this  employ- 
ment he  was  fo  very  dexterous  and  luc- 
-ful,  that  he  recommended  himfelf  high- 
ly to  his  mailer,  who  not  only  allowed 
.  him  large  wages,  but  promLfed  him  farther 

fcompenfe^  During  Mr.  BulFs  ficknefs, 
e  care  and  diligence  of  this  faithful  fer- 
vant  had  been  unremitted,  and  his  merits 
were  thereby  increafed,  fo  that  Mr.  Bui:, 
on  his  recovery)  lound  himfelf  deeply  in- 
red  to  him,  and  he  ilill  continued  his 
icrvieeo ;    tiii;    v»  orn  out  with  age  and  in- 

mity, 


%z  THE     FORESTERS. 

firmity,  he  died  and  had   an   honourabfe 
funeral. 

His  fon  William  then  became  his  heir, 
and  folicited  for  payment  cf  the  arrears 
due  to  his  father,  which  Mr.  Bull,  accord- 
ing to  the  maxim  he  had  laid  down  for 
himfelf,  and  urged  by  the  neceflity  of  the 
occafion,  proposed  to  difcharge  by  a  leafe 
of  part  cf  the  Foreft.  This  happened  to 
fall  in,  exactly,  with  William's  views, 
which  were  cf  a-  fingular  nature. 

I 

About  this  time  a  nervous  diforder  ap- 
peared in  Bull's  family,  which  went  by  the 
name  of  the  fial'mg  polfy*  We  fhall  not 
pretend  to  trace  the  caufes  of  it,  as  the 
origin  of  filch  things  is  often  obfeure  and4 
impenetrable  ;  but  the  effects  were,^ 
trembling  of  the  nerves,  a  iliffnefs  in  the 
neck  and  fhculders,  and  a  hefitancy  in  the 
ffpeech,  fo  that  it  was  impeflible  for  the 
patients  to  incline  the  head,  or  pronounce 
certain  words    and  fyllables..  uich  as  Sir3 

Madam, 

*  Quake riihfe 


THE     FORLjTERS.  S  j. 

Muuu.TJ,  your  Hoiior^  my  L -d,  &c.  nor 
could  one  of  them  raife  his  hand  to  take  off 
his  hat,  or  hold  it  on  the  book  when  an 
t>ath  was  to  oj  udrniniitereu. 

Mi>.  BuTs  choleric  temper  misinter- 
preted this  natural  infirmity  into  a  fuilen 
difreipe£L  When  he.  found  a  change  in 
the  behaviour  of  thefe  domei'lics  ;  that  in- 
plead  of  bowing  to  him  they  flood  upright 
as  .i  may-pole,  and  initead  cf  Sir,  and  youe 
Honor,  they  could  utter  nothing  but  Friend* 
he  grew  angry,  and  made  a  c-ret:y  free  iiis 
of  his  fill ;  and  when  he  found  that  they 
could  not  be  cured  by  fuch  means,  he  thruit 
fome  of  tliem  into  a  CiAvk  clpfet,  and  (hut 
them  up  till  they  mould,  as  he  termed  it, 
r  learn  better  manners ;"  and  it  is  fuppof- 
td  he  would  have  carried  his  refentrneitf 
much  further,  but  for  this  circumftancc  :. 
William  Broadbrim, who  had  himfelfftrojag 
fymptoms  of  the  diforder,  whifpered  to- 
Mr.  Ba:!,  that  if  he  would  give  htm 
to  ripen  a  project  which  he  had  conceived, 
he  wo  did  rid  him  of  ail  trouble  with  thefe 

people. 


84  THE     FORESTER  5. 

people.  William  had  a  plodding  genius* 
and  the  fcheme  with  which  his  head  was 
pregnant  at  this  time,  was  nothing  more 
or  lefs  than  to  make  a  fetttement  in  the 
foreft,  and  take  all  thefe  people  with  him. 
Bull,  who  was  glad  to  get  rid  of  them,  and 
of  the  debt  which  he  owed  to  William*, 
readily  fell  in  with  the  project  j  and  a  grant 
was  made  out  under  hand  and  feal,  where- 
in William  Broadbrim,  and  his  heirs,  were 
inverted- with- the  right  of  foil,  and  all  oth- 
er privileges  of  proprietorfhipi ,  in  a  certain 
part  of  the  foreft,  between  the  plantation 
of  Marygold  and  thafof  Cart-rut:  and  Bare- 
elay,  being  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the1 
fpot  where  Cafimir  had  rebuilt  his  hut,  and1 
lived  in  an  ambiguous  .  fituation,  not  know- 
ing who  was  his  landlord.  With  him  Wil- 
liam made  a  peaceable  compromife,  faying, 
w  Friend,  I  will  do  thee  no  violence,  there' 
is  room  enough  for  us  both."  Cafimir  was 
glad  of  fo  good  a  neighbour,  and  he  had 
r-eafon  to  be,  for  he  throve  more  rapidly  af- 
ter this  than  before. 

William 


THE     FORESTERS.  85 

William  pitched  upon  a  level  piece  of 
ground,  where  two  large  brooks  met,  for 
the  fituation  of  his  manfion  houfe,  and 
went  to  work  to  draw  up  rules  for  the  gov- 
ernment of  his  family.  One  of  which  was, 
that  no  pcrfon  mould  be  refufed  admittance 
into  it,  or  disturbed  in  it,  or  caft  out  of  it, 
cm  account  of  any  natural  infirmity.  Anoth- 
er was,  that  no  arms  nor  ammunition  fhould 
ever  be  made  ufe  of,  on  any  pretence- what- 
ever. The  hid  of  thefe  rules  gained  Wil- 
liam great  reputation  among  all  fenfible 
men  ;  the  latter  was  a  notion  which  candor 
would  lead  us  to  fuppofe  proceeded  from  a 
love  of  peace,  and  the  exercife  of  good  will 
toward  his  fellow-creatures ;  though  fome 
were  fo  ill-natured  as  to  imagine  that  it  was 
an  efFecT:  of  the  diforder  in  his  nerves. 

When  any  of  William's  neighbours,  who 
were  of  a  different  way  of  thinking,  fpakc 
:o  him  of  the  impolicy  of  this  rule,  and  alk- 
jd  him  how  he  expected  to  defend  himfelf 
ind  his  family  againft  the  wild  beaits,  it 
;hcy  fhould  attack  him  j  William,  who  was 

fond 


S6  THE     FORESTERS. 

fend  of  fcarar.pic,  would  anfwer  thu?— 
((  There  is  in  all  creatures  a  certain  in- 
flin£t,  which  difpofcth  them  to  peace.  This 
mftinct.  is  fo  ftrong  and  .fixed,  that  upon  it, 
ns  upon  a  foundation,  may  be  erected  a 
complete  fyflern  of  love  and  concord,  which 
?11  the  powers  of  anarchy  frail  net  be  able 
to  overthrow.  To  cultivate  and  improve 
this  infcintl',  is  the  bufmefs  of  every  wife 
man,  and  he  may  reafonabiy  expect  that  an 
example  of  this  kind,  if  fteadily  and  regu- 
larly adhered. to,  will  have  a  very  extenfive 
^nd  beneficial  influence,  on  all  forts  of 
creatures;  even  the  wild 'beads  of  the  for- 
eft  will  become  tame  as  lambs,. and  birds  of 
prey  harmlefs  as  doves,  ©oft  thou  not  fee, 
friend,  what  influence  my  example  has 
already  had  on  thofe  creatures  which  are 
deemed  favage  ?  I  go  into  their  dens  with 
fafcty,  and  they  enter  my  habitation  without 
fori  When  thev  are  hungry  I  feed  them., 
when  they  arc  thirfiy  I  give  them  drink, 
and  they  in  return  bear  my  burdens,  and 
do  fuch  other  kind  offices  as  they  are  capa- 
ble of,  and  I  require  of  them.     1  have  even 

tamed 


THE     FORESTERS.  87 

timed  fome  of  them  fo  far,  that  Inev  have 
fold  mc  the  land  on  which  they  live,  and 
have  acknowledged  the  bargain  by  a  mark 
made  with  their  toe-nails  on  parchment. 
'They  are  certainly  fome  of  the  beft  nitured 
creatures  in  the  world  j  their  native  inftmcl: 
leads  them  to  love  and  peace,  and  foeiabil- 
ity  ;  and  as  long  as  I  fet  them  a  good  exam- 
pie,  I  have  no  doubt  they  will  follow  it. 
When  fuch  is  my  opinion  and  expectation, 
why  mould  I  be  anxious  about  what  may, 
and  I  truft  never  will  happen  ?  Why  mould 
I  put  myfelf  in  a  pofture  of  defence  againfl 
thofe  who  may  never  attack  me  ?  or,  why 
mould  I,  by  the  appearance  of  jealoufy  and 
diftrufl  on  my  part,  offend  thofe  who  now  put 
confidence  in  me  ?  No,  no,  I  will  not  fup- 
pofe  that  they  will  ever  hurt  me.  I  will  not 
buffer  the  carnal  weapon  to  be  feen  in  my 
hcufe,  nor  mail  one  of  my  family  ever  learn 
the  deteftablc  practice  of  pulling  the  trigger. 
I  leave  the  inilruments  of  deftruclion  to 
:the  offspring  of  Cain  and  the  fced  of  the 
ierpent  ;  whilft  I  meekly  imitate  the  gei> 

tienefe 


82  THE     FORESTERS. 

tlenefs  of  the  lamb,  and  the  innocence  of* 
the  dove." 

With  fuch  harangues  William  would 
frequently  entertain  himfelf  and  his  friends, 
and  he  was  fo  fanguine  in  his  benevolent 
project,  that  inftead  of  having  his  own  name, 
as  was  ufual,  written  over  his  door,  he  had 
the  words  brotherly  love,  .translated,  in- 
to the  Greek  language,  $IAAAEA$IA,  and 
infcribed  in  golden  characters,  as  a  {land- 
ing invitation  to  perfons  of  all  nations  and 
characters,  to  come  and  take  fhelter  under 
•  his  roof. 


T  H  E     FORESTERS.  89 


Letter  vii. 

\Diffenfions  in  'Broadbrim'/  Family. — His 
Averjion  to  Fire- Arms  and  its  Confequetice. 
Air.  BullV  fecond  Sicknefs,  and  ficond 
Marriage. — His  Pro] eel  for  making  a  new 
Plantation. — The  Care  of  it  committed  /# 
George  Trusty. — Trout  Fijhery  eflab- 
lified    at    the    Plantation    c/*  ALEXANDER 

Scotus. 


DEAR  SIR, 

1  HE  general  invitation  which  Wil- 
liam Broadbrim  had  given  to  all  perfons 
■who  were  deftitute  of  a  home,  to  come 
and  take  (belter  under  his  Toof,  and  the 
•gentle,  humane  treatment  which  thofe  who 
accepted  the  invitation  met  with,  fpread 
his  fame  abroad,  and  brought  him  much 
company.  His  family  was  -fometimes  com- 
G  pared 


50  THE     FORESTERS. 

pared  to  the  Ark  of  Noah,  becaufe  there 
was  fcarcely  any  kind  of  being,  of  what- 
ever fhape,  iize,  complexion,  difpofition, 
or  language,  but  what  might  be  found 
there.  He  had  alfo  the  art  to  keep  them 
pretty  well  employed.  Induflry,  frugality, 
and  temperance,  were  the  leading  princi- 
ples of  his  family  •,  and  their  thriving  was 
in  a  ratio  compounded  of  thefe  three  forces. 
Nothing  was  wanting  to  make  them  as 
happy  a  family  as  any  in  the  world,  but  a 
difpofition  among  themfelves,  to  live  in  peace. 
Unluckily,  this  defirable  blefiing,  on  ac- 
count of  the  variety  of  their  lvwinours  and 
interefts,  was  feldom  found  among  them* 
Ambition,  jealoufy,  avarice,  and  party  fpirit, 
had  frequent  out-breakings,  and  were  with 
difficulty  quelled.  It  is  needlefs  to  enter 
into  a  very  particular  difcuiTion  of  the 
grounds  or  effects  of  thefe  diiTenfions  : 
family  quarrels  are  not  very  entertaining 
either  at  home  or  abroad,  unlefs  to  fuch  as 
delight  in  fcanclal.  But  there  was  one 
caufe  of  difienfion  which  it  would  be  im- 
proper not  to  notice,  becaufe  I  have  already 

hinted  ' 


THE     FORESTERS.  9t 

hinted  at  the  principle  from  which  it  . 
cecded.  William^  arveHion  to  fire-arms 
was  fo  ilrong,  that  he  would  net  hitler  any 
of  his  family  to  moleft  the  wild  inhabitants 
of  the  foreit,  though  they  were  ever  fo 
mifchicvous.  While  the  family  was  fr-.nd1, 
the  favagfe  animals  who  lived  ifl  the  neigh- 
bourhood, being  well  fed,  were  toler.d-!> 
tame  and  civil,  but  when  the  incre. 
number  of  the  family  had  penetrated  far- 
ther into  the  forefl,  the  haunts  of  the  na- 
tives were  disturbed,  and  the  itragglirg 
labourers  were  fometimes  furprifed,  and 
having  nothing  to  defend  themfelves  with, 
fell  a  facrifice  to  favage  refentment.  Ile- 
monftrances  were  prefented  to  Mr.  Bread- 
brim  one  after  another,  but  he  always  in- 
filled oji  it  that  the  fufferer  muft  have  been 
the  aggreflbr,  and  that  "  they  who  take  the 
fword,  mult  expe£fa  to  periih  by  the  fword." 
At  length  the  dead  corpfe  of  one  of  the 
labourers,  mangled  and  torn  in  a  dreadful 
manner,  was  brought  and  laid  at  the  doer 
of  William's  parlour,''  with  a  label  aifixed 
G  2  to 

1  State  houie,  1 7  j 5. 


91  THE     FORESTERS. 

to  the  breaft,  on  which  were  written  thefe 
words,  "  Thou  thyfelf  muft  be  accounted 
my  murderer,  becaufe  thou  didil  deny  me 
the  means  of  defence/'  At  fight  of  this 
horrid  fpe&acle,  Broadbrim  turned  pale  I 
the  eye  of  his  mind  looked  inward  !  Nature 
began  to  plead  her  own  caufe  within  him  ! 
he  gave  way  in  fome  degree  to  her  opera- 
tions, though  contrary  to  his  pre-conceived 
opinion,  and  with  a  trembling  hand  figned 
a  permiflion  for  thofe  to  ufe  the  carnal 
iveapotiy*  who  could  do  it'without  fcruple  5 
and  when  they  aiked  him  for  money  to 
buy  guns,  powder  and  ball,  he  gave  them 
a  certain  fum  to  provide  tlie  neceffaries  of 
life,  leaving  them  to  put  their  own  con- 
(tru£Uon  on  the  words.  Bv  degrees  his 
fqueamifhnefs  decreafed,  and  though  it  is 
imagined  he  has  ftill  fome  remainder  of  it, 
yet  necefhty  has  fo  often  overcome  it,  that 
there  is  not  much  faid  on  the  fubjecl:,  un*. 
\'ch  it  be  very  privately  and  among  friends, 

During 

*  Milkia  a<ft 


THE     FORESTERS.  93 

During  the  time  of  which  we  have  been 
Speaking,  Mr.  John  Bull  had  undergone 
another  ficknefs,*  not  fo  long  nor  fo  violent 
as  the  former,  but  much  more  beneficial  in 
its  effects.  His  new  physicians  had  admin- 
iftered  medicines  which  compofed  his 
nerves  ;  he  ate,  drank,  and  flcpt  more  regu- 
larly ;  and  he  was  advifed  to  marry  again, 
for  his  former  wife  had  died  of  a  consump- 
tion a  little  before  this  ficknefs  came  on. 
By  thefe  means  his  vigour  was  renewed, 
but  fViil  his  whimfical  difpofition  remained, 
and  broke  out  on  feveral  occafions.  When 
he  viewed  his  cxtenfive  ioreft,  now  planted 
and  thriving,  under  the  honeft  hand  of  in- 
duflry,  he  thought  within  himfelf  that  dill 
greater  advantages  might  be  derived  from 
Chat  territory.  There  was  yet  a  part  of  it 
unfettled  between  the  plantation  of  Charles 
Indigo,  and  the  dominions  of  Lord  Strut  ; 
and  Bull  thought  it  a  pity  to  let  fo  much 
remain  a  wildernefs.  The  other  plantations 
had  been  made  by  diicontented  fervants 
and    needy   adventurers,    who,    ft  niggling 

with 
*  The  Revolution,  1688. 


94  THE     FORESTERS. 

\rith  hardships,  by  a  fleudy  perfeverance  had 
furmounted  many  difficulties,  and  obtained 
a  comfortable  living.     "  Now,  laid  Bull,  if 
tliefe  fellows  have  done  (o  well,  and  got  fo 
far  a  forehand,  without  having  any  capital  of 
their  own  to  begin  with,   what  cannot  be 
done  by  the  force  of  my  great  capital  ?  If 
they  have   performed  fuck  wonders,  what 
greater  wonders  may  be  brought  into  view 
bv  my  own  exertions,  with  all  the  advantages 
which  it  is  in  my  power  to  command  ?  To 
it,  boys  ;  I  vow  I'll  have  a  farm  of  my  own 
that  fhali  beat  you  all !" — Having  hit  upon 
this  project,  his  brains  immediately  became 
pregnant  with  ideas ;  but  according  to  the 
rule  which  he  had  lately  prefcribed  to  him- 
felf,  he  communicated    the   matter  to   his 
wife.      This  good  lady  was  not  free  from 
an  ambitious   turn  of  mind.     She  was  ex- 
tremely fond  of  having  it  thought  that  fhe 
had  great  influence  over  her  hufband,  and 
would  fometimes  gratify  his  humour  at  the 
expenfe  of  her  own  judgment,  rather  than 
not  keep  'up   this   idea.     His  expectations. 
from  his  new  project  were  verv  fanguine* 

The 


THE     FORESTERS.  95 

The  land  on  which  he  had  caft  his  eve  was 
enough  for  a  large  farm-,  it  had  a  fouthern 
cxpofure  ;  it  was  warm,  rich  and  fertile  in 
fome  parts,  and  in  others  boggy  or  fandv. 
He  had  converfed  with  fome  foreigner*, 
who  told  him  that  it  was  proper  for  the 
cultivation  of  wine  and  filk,  and  he  imagin- 
ed that  if  he  could  bur  add  thefc  article 

".ill  of  his  own  production  5,  there  would 
be  a  great  laving  in  the  family.  Mrs.  Bull 
too  was  pleafed  with  t  ig  her 

filk  gowns  and  ribbands  of  her  own  grov 
and  with  the  expectatxn  of  having  the 
vaults  filled  with  wine,  made  on  her  own 
plantation  ;  for  theft  and  other  good  rea- 
sons, her  thereunto  moving,  Madam  gave 
her  cement  to  the  project.  The  peribn 
appointed  to  cariry  it  into  execution  was 
Gi  rrge  Tru/ty,  a  fenfible  well  bred  mereh.mt, 
but  out  who  had  only  {peculated  in  the 
of  agriculture,  and   knew   nothing 

nee.     Having  collected  a 

of  poor  people  who  were  out  of 

employment,    he  fent    them   to  the   fpot, 

:  to  work  fix  days  m  ieven3 
to 


96  THE     FORESTERS. 

to  keep  their  tools  free  from  ruft,  and  their 
fire-arms  in  readinefs  for  their  defence.. 
Whatever  they  mould  earn  was  to  be  their 
own  as  long  as  they  lived,  and  after  their 
death  their  pofTeflions  were  to  defcend  to 
their  fotu,  and  in  default  of  male  ifTue  to 
revert  to  the  original  grantor.  They  were, 
not  allowed  to  ufe  black  cattle  in  the  la- 
bour of  the  field  ;  and  were  exprefsly  for- 
bidden to  drink  grog.  Their  bufmefs  was: 
to  cultivate  vines  and  mulberry  trees,  and. 
to  manufacture  wine  and  filk.  Upon  this- 
project  another  was  grafted  by  the  very 
figacious  Doctor  Squintum,  who  chofe  this. 
new  plantation  as  the  moft  convenient  fpot 
in  the  world  for  a  charity  fchool,  where 
Orphans  might  receive  the  beft  education, 
and  be  fitted  to  be  the  pillars  of  church 
and  State. 

But  notwithflanding  the  furns  which 
Bull  fo  freely  lavifhed  out  of  his  bags  for 
the  fupport  of  the  vine  and  mulberry  plant- 
ations >  and  notwithstanding  the  collections 
which  Souintum  made  among  his  numer- 
ous 


THE     FORESTERS.  97 

ous  devotees,  thefe  projects  were  either  (o 
impracticable  in  themfelves,  or  fo  ill  con- 
ducted in  the  execution,  that  neither  of 
them  anfwered  the  expectations  of  the  pro- 
jectors. For  want  of  black  cattle,  the  foil 
could  not  be  properly  tilled  -,  and  for  want 
of  grog,  the  labourers  fainted  at  their  work  ; 
the  right  of  inheritance  being  limited  to  the 
male  line,  women  and  girls  were  not  fond 
of  living  there,  and  the  men  could  not  well 
live  without  them  \  land,  cattle,  women, 
and  grogi  were  to  be  had  elfewhere,  and 
who  would  be  confined  to  fuch  a  place  ? 
The  land,  too,  was  claimed  by  Lord  Strut,, 
who  fent  them  writs  of  ejectment.  As  to 
the  charitv  fchool,  it  was  on  trial  found 
that  the  cofl  was  more  than  the  profit,  and 
the  building,  which  had  fwallowed  up  thou- 
fands  of  charity  money,  was  finally  confu- 
med  by  fire.  Poor  George  Trufty  was 
difcouraged,  and  begged  Kir.  Bull  to  take 
the  plantation  into  his  own  hands ;  how- 
ever, Bull  continued  to  fupply  him  with 
caih,  and  he  kept  on  making  attempts. 
Alterations  were  made  in  the  terms  of  fet- 
tle ment, 


cS  THE     FORESTERS. 

dement,  the  reftriclions  were  removed,  cat- 
tle and  grog  were  allowed,  Lord  Strut  was 
oufted,  and  poflefTion  held  ;  the  fwamps 
were  drained ;  rice  and  indigo  were  culti- 
vated inflead  of  fiik  and  wine  ;  and  upon 
the  whole,  confidence  improvements  were 
made,  though  at  fuch  a  vaft:  cxpenfe,  that 
Mr.  Bull  never  faw  any  adequate  returns. 

The  ill  fuccefs  of  this  adventure  did  not 
deter  him  from  another  project.  He  was 
extremely  fond  e-f  Trout*  and  thought  if 
he  could  have  them  regularly  catched  and 
brought  to  his  table,  he  mould  exceed  all 
his  neighbours  in  delicate  living  ;  and  now 
and  then  be  able  to  fend  a  mefs  to  his  par- 
ticular friends.  Lord  Peter's  family,  too, 
he  thought,  would  be  glad  to  buy  them,  as 
they  were  very  ufeful  .in  the  long  lents, 
and  frequent  meagre  days  obferved  by 
them.  There  was  a  part  of  the  fbreft  on 
the  north-eaft  quarter,  winch  was  very  con- 
veniently fituated  for  this  employment.  It 
had  been  occupied  by  Alexander  Scotus, 

a  purbii 

■  CoJ  fifttery. 


T  3  E     FORESTE  R  S.  59 

a  purblind  fellow,  who  had  draggled  thither 
no  one  could  tell  how  5  and  it  was  matter 
of  doubt  whether  he  derived  his  light  from 
Bull,  or  Lewis  ;  for  both  of  them  laid 
claim  to  the  land,  and  their  claims  had  not 
ly  decided  in  law.  To  mike  fure 
of  the  matter,  Mr.  Bull,  by  advice  of  his 
wife,  fent  a  v  to  bring  oft'  the  family 

of  Scotus,  whom  he  diftributed  among  the 
3  of  his  tenants  ;  their 

ither*  a  parcel  of 
ftarved  people,  who  could  live  no  whei 
clfc,  and  fupported  them  for  fever. 

h  pro  virions,  fmrnifhed  them  with  Ikiffs, 
lines,  hooks  and  other  implements  te  carry- 
on  the  fifhery  *,  but  everv  trout  which  they 
catched,  coft  him  ten  times  as  much  as  if 
he  li.id  bought  it  in  the  common  market  5 
nor  could  lie,  after  all,  get  half  of  what  he 
wanted  for  his  own  confumption.  His 
trout  fifhery,  and  his  mulberry  plantation, 
rendered    him    t'..  flock    of   his 

u?s,    nor  couh  r   gain   1 

the  intci  laid 

out 


to         THE     FORESTERS. 

cut  upon  them ;  while  t^e  fc-iefters  whe* 
had  fettled  at  their  own  expenfe,  grew  rich 
and  became  refpeclable.  He  had  indeed 
the  benefit  of  their  trade,  which  kept  his 
journeymen  at  work,  and  obliged  him  to 
enlarge  their  number  ;  for  the  foreftcrs  had 
a  refpeel  for  their  old  mafterand  landlord,, 
and  when  they  had  any  thing  to  fell,  they 
always  let  him  have  the  refufal  of  it,  and. 
bought  all  their  goods  of  him.  But  though 
he  called  himfelf  their  fatherland  his  wife 
their  mother,  yet  lie  began  to  abate  of  his 
parental  affection  for  them  y  and  rather> 
looked  on  them  with  a  jealous  eye,  as  if 
t'hey  were  aiming  to  deprive  him  of  his- 
claim,  and  fet  up  for  independence.  Had- 
he  been  contented  with-  the  profits  of  their 
trade,  as  was  certainly  his  intereft,  they 
might  have  remained  his  tenants  to  this 
day ;  but  ambition,  avarice,  jealoufy  and 
choler,  inflamed  by  bad  counfellors,  have 
wrought  fuch  a  feparation,  that  it  is 
thought  Mr.  Bull  will  go  mourning  all  the 
remainder  of  his  days,  and  his  grey  hairs- 
VviJl  be  brought  down  with  forrow  to  the 
grave. 


THE     FORESTERS.  lot 


Letter  viii. 

Mr.  Bull'/  parrel  and  Law-Suit  wiib 
Lewis  and  Lord  Strut.-— He  gains  Pof- 
fcjfion  of  the  whole  Forty?. 


DEAR  SIR, 

IN  my  former  letters  I  have  endeav- 
oured to  trace  the  ieveral  fteps  by  which 
the  foreft  became  cultivated  and  peopled. 
Mr.  Bull  had  no  lefs  than  fourteen  tenants 
who  held  under  him,  and  were  fettled  on 
"lands  which  he  claimed  as  his  own,  and 
which  he  had  granted  to  them  in  feparate 
parcels.     Their  names,  were  as  follows :     i 

Alexander  Scotus,         *  Cafimir, 

Robert  Lumber,  William  Broadbrim, 

John  Codline,  Cecilius  Marygold, 

Roger  Carrier,  W  alter  PipeweeJ, 

Humphry 


*>*  THE     FORESTERS. 

Humphry  Ploughfhare,  Peter  Pitch, 
Peter  Bullfrog,  Charles  Indigo, 

Julius  Csefar,  George  Truity. 

It  was  obferved  that  of  all  the  adventu- 
rers, thofe  generally  were  the  leajl  thriving^ 
who  received  mojl  afllftmice  from  their  old 
mailer.  I  cannot  tell  whether  it  was  ow- 
ing to  their  being  employed  in  bufmefs  to 
which  they  had  not  ferved  a  regular  ap- 
prenticeihip,  or  to  a  natural  indolence,  and 
a  difpofition  to  continue  hangers-on  where 
they  had  got  a  good  hold  ;  for  it  mud  be 
noted,  that  Mr.  Bull  was  very  generous  to 
fome  perfons,  and  on  fome  occafions  where 
it  fuited  his  fancy ;  and  this  difpoiition  in 
him  was  fo  prevalent,  that  they  who  ken- 
ned him,  and  would  humour  his  whims, 
could  work  him  out  of  any  thing  which 
they  had  a  mind  to. 

On  the  other  hand,  thofe  adventurers 
-who  came  into  the  foreft  on  their  own  ac- 
count, and  had  no  afliflance  at  all  from 
their  old  mailer,   nor  any  thing   to  help 

themfelves 


THE     FORESTERS.  103 

themfelves  with,  but  their  four  limbs  and 
five  fenfeSj  proved  to  be  the  mofl  induftri- 
ous  and  thriving,  and  after  a  while  told  up 
a  good,  eftate.  They  all  Teemed  to  have  an 
afte&ion  for  INIr.  Bull,  and  it  was  generally 
believed  to  be  Gncere.  His  houfe  was 
ufually  fpoken  of  by  them  as  their  home. 
His  warc-houfe  was  the  centre  of  their 
traffic  ;  and  he  had  the  addrefs  to  engrofs 
the  profits  of  their  labour,  and  draw  their 
earnings  into  his  own  fob.  To  fome  of 
them  he  would  now  and  then  make  a  pref- 
ent,  to  others  he  would  lend  a  pack  of  his 
hounds,  when  he  was  out  of  the  humour  of 
hunting  -,  but  they  were  generally  ufeleii> 
to  them  for  the  purpofe  of  fcouring  the 
woods  ;  thofe  who  could  afford  it,  kept 
dogs  of  their  own,  who  were  better  trained 
to  the  game,  and  could  better  fcent  the 
forefl,  being  native  curs,  and  not  fo  fpruce 
.and  delicate  a  breed  as  Bull's  grey-hounds. 

It  has  been  before  obferved,  that  each 
-end  of  the  foreft  was  occupied  by  Bull's 
<rivai>.     His  old  neighbour  Lewis  had  go?: 


104         THE     FORESTERS. 

the  north  end,  and  Lord  Strut  the  Couth. 
Bull's  tenants  had  Ceated  themCelves  chief- 
ly on  or  near  the  more  of  the  lake,  and  had 
not  extended  very  far  back,  becaufe  of  the 
beafts  of  prey  ;  but  Lewis,  like  a  cunning 
old  fox,  had  formed  a  fcheme  to  get  footing 
,  in  the  interior  parts  of  the  country,  .and 
prevent  thefe  planters  from  penetrating" be- 
yond the  limits  which  he  intended  to  aflign 
them.  His  emiffaries  had  been  Cent  llily 
into  the  diftant  parts  of  the  foreft,  under 
pretence  of  taming  thefe  beafts  of  prey  ; 
but  in  fa£tthey  had  halved  the  matter  with 
them,  and«ha*d  themCelves  become  as  Cavage 
•as  the  beafts  had  become  tame.  They 
would  run,  leap  and  climb  with  them,  and 
crawl  into  their  dens,  imparting  to  them  a 
lick  of  molaffes  out  of  their  calabafh,  and 
teaching  them  to  fcratch  with  their  paws 
the  fign  of  a  CroTs.  They  had  built  Ceveral 
"hunting  lodges  on  the  moft  convenient  pafl- 
es  of  the  brooks  and  ponds,  and  though  thus 
Scattered  in  the  wood,  they  were  all  united 
cinder  one  QYerieer,  called  Onontio,  who 

lived 


THE     FORESTERS.  i*j 

Hived  in  the  manfion-houfe  of  St.  Lewis's 
Hall. 

It  was  matter  of  wonder  among  Bull's 
tenants,  for  fome  time,  what  could  be  the 
reafon  that  the  wild  beads  had  grown  more 
furly  and  fnappifh  of  late  than  formerly  ; 
but  after  a  while,  fome  hunters  made  a  dif- 
covcry  of  the  new  lodges,  which  the  emif- 
f.iries  of  Onontio  had  erected,  and  the  de- 
/ign  of  them  being  apparent,  a  general  alarm 
was  raifed  in  the  plantations.  On  the  firft 
news,  Walter  Pipeweed  fent  his  grandfon 
George,  a  fmart,  active,  lively  youth,  acrofs 
the  hills,  with  his  compliments  to  the  in- 
truders, defiring  them  to  move  off,  and 
threatening  them  with  a  writ,  in  cafe  of 
non-compliance.*  This  modcft  warning 
being  ineffectual,  it  was  thought  that  if  an 
Union  could  be  formed  among  the  tenants, 
they  might  make  a  (land  againft  thefe  en- 
croachments. A  meeting  was  held  at  Or- 
angt  Hall,\  but  no  efficient  plan  could  be 
bit  on,  without  a  previous  application  to 
H  their 

*  1753.  f  Albany,  1  ;j4. 


t6t>         THE     FORESTERS. 

their  landlord,  who  hearing  of  this  meeting, 
conceived  a  jealoufy  with  regard  to  this 
union  which  feemed  to  be  their  object,  and 
thought  it  was  better  to  retain  the  manage- 
ment of  the  matter  in  his  own  hands,  and 
keep  them  divided  among  themfelves,  but 
united  in  their  dependence  on  him.  He 
therefore  fent  them  word  that  "  he  had  a 
very  great  affection  for  them,  and  would 
take  care  of  their  intereft,  which  was  alfo 
his  own  ;  that  he  would  not  fufFer  Lewis 
to  fet  his  half  tamed  wild  beads  upon  them, 
nor  eject  them  from  their  poffemons,  but 
that  he  would  immediately  take  advice  of 
his  council,  learned  in  the  law,  conjuring 
them  by  the  affection  which  they  profeffed 
to  bear  towards  him,  to  be  aiding  and  af- 
fifting  in  all  ways  in  their  power,  towards 
bringing  the  controverfy  to  an  iiTue. 

At  this  time,  the  fteward,  to  whom  Mr. 
Bull  entrufted  the  care  of  his  bufmefs,  was 
not  a  perfon  of  that  difcernment  and  expe- 
dition which  the  exigency  of  affairs  requi- 
red.   He  had  committed  divers  blunders  in 

his 


THE     FORESTERS.  ioj 

his  accounts,  and  it  was  fiifpe&ed  that  he 
was  a  defaulter  in  more  refpects  tfhfcn  one. 
It  cannot,  therefore,  be  expected,  that  in 
conducting  a  controverfy  of  this  magnitude, 
he  mould  exactly  hit  on  the  right  methods, 
nor  employ  the  belt  council  which  could 
be  had.  'Hie  firft  ftep  taken  was  to  fend 
the  bailiff,  with  a  writ  of  intru- 
f.on,  which  he  was  ordered  to  ferve  v:!ct;j 
twlcjiS)  upon  one  of  the  mefTuages  or  hunt- 
ing-feats of  Lewis.  This  bailiff,  proceed- 
ing ramly  and  againft  the  heft  advice  into 
the  foreft,  not  a  ftep  of  which  he  was  ac- 
quainted with,  found  his  progrefs  impeded 
111  a  way  wholly  unexpected.  For  Onontio 
had  taken  care  to  place  a  number  of  his 
half  tamed  wild-cats  and  wolverenes  on  the 
boughs  of  trees,  which  hung  over  the  path, 
and  as  foon  as  the  bailiff  came  within  reach, 
having  firft  wetted  their  tails  with  their 
own  urine,  they  whiiked  it  into  his  C] 
they  blinded  him.  This  manoeuvre  put  a 
flop  to  the  procefs  for  that  time. 

H  2  Srvr.RAL 

•  Braddock,  1755. 


io8         THE     FORESTERS. 

Several  other  attempts  of  the  like  kind 
were  made  without  luccefs,  and  Lewis  at 
one  time  had  almoft  got  poffeffion  of  Orange 
Hall.*  Not  only  the  forefters  themfelves, 
but  even  Bull's  own  domeftics,  complained 
bitterly  of  thefe  ineffectual  meafures,  and 
their  clamors  at  lait  prevailed  to  make  him 
difcharge  his  old  fleward,  and  put  another 
into  his  place.  The  new  ofiicerf  foon 
changed  the  face  of  affairs  ;  he  employed 
no  attorneys,  nor  bailiffs,  but  thofe  of  tried 
and  approved  abilities,  men  of  enterprife 
and  refolution,  by  whom  the  fuit  was  prof* 
ecuted  in  good  earned,  In  every  action 
Bull  recovered  judgment,  and  got  poffeflion. 
When  Lord  Strut  came  in  to  the  aid  of  Lew-* 
is,  Bull  call  him  aifo,  and  took  away  his  ma-* 
nor  of  Auguiline,  which,  with  the  whole 
tra£t  of  land,  where  Onontio  prefided,  was 
annexed  to  his  eftate.  The  agents  who  had 
been  employed  in  this  arduous  fervice, 
were  not  only  well  paid  for  doing  their 
duty,  but,  with  the  fteward  who  employed 
them,  were  honoured  according  to  the  an- 
cient 

*  1757.  |  Pitt's  adminiflratioG, 


THE     FORESTERS.  109 

tient  hut  whimfical  cuftom  of  Bull's  fam- 
ily, by  having  their  efiigies  pourtrayed  on 
iign-boards,  pocket  handkerchiefs,  fnuff- 
boxes,  and  punch-bowls  ;  fo  that  while  the 
fit  laited,  you  could  not  walk  the  ftreets, 
nor  blow  your  nofe,  nor  take  a  pinch  of 
fnuff,  nor  a  draught  of  punch,  but  you 
were  obliged  to  J'ilute  them. 

Wbe never  Bull's  fteward  called  upon 
die  forefters  for  their  quotas  of  aid  towards 
carrying  on  this  heavy  law-fuit,  they  always 
readily  afforded  it  -,  and  fornc  of  them  were 
really  almoft  exhaufted  by  the  efforts  which 
they  made,  to  do  mere  than  their  fhare. 
The  fteward  was  fo  fenfible  of  their  merit, 
that  on  due  confutation  with  Mr.  Bull's 
wife,  and  her  taking  him  in  the  right  mood, 
he  was  prevailed  upon  to  reimburle  the  ex- 
tra expenie  to  them,  and  mutual  compla- 
cency reigned  between  the  landlord  and 
tenants  all  the  time  this  fteward  remained 
in  office.  But  thefe  times  were  too  good 
to  laft  lone:  i  there  were  fome  who  envied 
the  fteward  his  reputation,  and  raifed  Itories 

to 


II©         THE     FORESTERS. 

to  his  disadvantage,  which  highly  affronted 
him.  At  this  time  Mr.  Bull  was  fo  much 
off  his  guard,  as  to  give  heed  to  thefe  re- 
ports, and  take  a  rafh  Hep  in  a  hurry, 
which  he  had  occafion  to  repent  of  at  lu3 
leifure.  He  accepted  the  refignation  of 
this  trufty  figurant,  and  put  one  of  his*  fil- 
ter Peg's  caft  off  footmen  into  his  place  ; 
whereby  he  laid  a  foundation  for  his  own 
difgrace,  and  the  diimemberment  of  his 
eit.ite,  of  which  I  {hall  give  you  a  particular 
account  hereafter.  Adieu. 

'  Bitted  adminiftration,  1761, 


THE     FORESTERS.  in 


letter  ix. 

Mr.  Bull  gets  into  Debt,  and  by  the  Advice  of 
his  new  Wife  and  her  gambling  Companion' } 
begins  a  £htarrel  ivith  his  Tenants. 


DEAR    SIR, 

X  O  trace  with  precinon  all  the 
caufeSj  great  and  fmall,  which  operated  to 
the  difmemberment  of  John  Buirs  eft  ate, 
would  be  no  eafv  talk  ;  fome  of  them  per- 
haps, were  fecret^  but  of  fuch  as  were  open 
to  obfervation,  we  {hall  endeavour  to  (ket  A 
out  the  principal. 

It  is  well  known  that  he  was  of  a  chol- 
eric habit,  and  that  thofe  who  were  ac- 
quainted with  his  humor  and  paftions, 
could  manage  and  impofe  upon  him  at 
their  pieafure.     Had  he  been  let  alone  to 

purfue 


xi2         THE     FORESTERS. 

purfue  his  own  bufinefs  him/elf,  his  plain,- 
natural  good  fenfe,  and  generofity  of  mind; 
would  have  kept  him  clear  of  many  diffi- 
culties ;  but  he  had  his  advifers,  his  hang- 
ers-on, his  levee-hunters,  his  toad-eaters, 
and  fycophants,  forever  about  him,  whc> 
like  a  pared  of  blood-fuckers,  could  never 
have  enough  to  glut  their  voracity. 

When  the  foreft  was  fir  ft  occupied  by 
the  tenants,  Bull  had  a  wife  who  minded 
her  own  domeftic  bufinefs,  and  did  not 
concern  herfelf  with  his  landed  intereft. 
The  leafes  and  grants  were  made  out  m 
his  name,  and  he  was  fuppofed  to  be  the 
owner  or  proprietor ;  but  the  lady  whom 
he  had  married  after  his  fecond  ficknefs, 
was  very  afluming,  and  infifted  on  having 
her  hand  in  the  management  of  all  his 
affairs.  She  vifited  the  compting-houfe, 
and  made  the  clerks  fhew  her  their  books  ; 
{he  overhauled  the  fteward's  accounts,  and 
infpecl:ed  his  correfpondence ;  fhe  not  only 
looked  after  the  rents  and  incomes  of  tlie 
foreft,  but  even  intruded  into  the  houfehold 

concerns 


THE     FORESTER?.         iij 

Concerns  of  the  tenants,  and  affected  to 
call  herfelf  their  mother,  becaufe  ike  had 
taken  fome  care  of  one  or  two  of  them  in 
their  firft  letting  out,  although  mod  of 
them  fcareely  ever  had  ittn  her  face,  or 
had  any  acquaintance  with  her,  but  by 
hear  fay. 

It  muft  be  obferved,  alfo,  that  this  wo- 
man had  engaged  Mr.  Bull  in  fome  expen- 
five  law-fuits  and  fpeculations,  which  had 
got  him  deeply  into  debty  and  he  was  obli- 
ged to  hire  money  of  ufurers  to  carry  her 
fc hemes  into  execution.  Had  fhe,  at  the 
fame  time,  introduced  that  frugality  and 
economy  into  the  family,  which  her  duty 
ought  to  have  prompted  her  to,  this  debt 
might  have  been  kept  down  ;  but  the 
fwarm  of  harpies  which  were  continually 
about  her,  and  the  courie  of  gambling 
which  was  carried  on  under  her  conni- 
vance and  direction,  fwallowed  up  all  the 
profits  of  the  trade,  and  incomes  of  the 
land  ;  while  the  luxury  and  diihpation  of 
the  family  i/;cre?.fed,  in  proportion  as  the 

means 


jX4         THE     FORESTER?. 

means  of  difcharging  the  debt  Jccreafed* 
In  fhort,  Mr.  Bull  was  reduced  to  that 
humiliating  condition,  which,  by  whatever 
fafhionable  name  it  may  now  go,  was 
formerly  called  petticoat  government. 

During  the  law-fuit  with  Lewis  and 
Lord  Strut,*  concerning  the  foreft,  there 
had  been  a  great  intercourfe  with  the  ten- 
ants. Many  of  Bull's  fervants  and  retain- 
ers, who  were  employed  as  bailiffs  and  at- 
tornies,  and  their  deputies,  had  been  very 
converfant  with  them,  and  were  entertained 
at  their  houfes,  where  they  always  found 
wholefome  victuals,  jolly  fire  fides,  and 
warm  beds.  They  took  much  notice  of 
every  thing  that  patTed,  aiked  many  ques- 
tions, and  made  many  remarks  on  the  good- 
nefs  of  the  land,  the  pleafant  fituation  of 
the  houfes,  the  clean  and  thriving  condition 
of  the  children,  who  were  always  ready  to 
wait  on  them,  to  clean  their  boots,  hold 
their  ftirrups,  open  and  (hut  the  gates  for 
them,  and  the  like  little  neceflary  fervices, 

as 

*  War  of  1756, 


THE     FORESTERS.  xi5 

as  well  bred  children  in  the  country  arc 
wont.  The  remarks  which  thefe  periods 
made,  when  they  got  home,  favored  rather 
of  envy,  than  of  gratitude  or  afTeclion, 
Some  of  them  would  fay  :  "  Thofe  fellows 
live  too  well  in  the  forelt ;  they  thrive  too 
faft ;  the  place  is  too  good  for  them  ;  they 
ought  to  know  who  is  their  matter  ;  they 
can  afford  to  pay  more  rent  ;  they  ought 
to  pay  for  the  help  they  have  had  ;  if  it 
had  not  been  for  Matter  Bull,  and  the  alii  ft- 
ance  which  he  has  lent  them,  they  would 
have  been  turned  out  of  doors  ;  and  now 
thev  are  to  reap  the  benefit  of  his  exertions, 
while  he,  poor  man,  is  to  pay  the  coft." 

There  were  not  wanting  feme,  in  the 
families  of  the  Forefters  themielves,  who 
had  the  meannefs  to  crouch  to  thefe  fel- 
lows, and  fupplicate  their  favour  and  inte- 
relt  with  Mr.  Bull,  to  recommend  them  to 
fome  pods  of  profit,  as  under-ftewards,  col- 
lectors of  rent,  clerks  of  receipts,  and  the 
like  petty  oinces.  Thefe  beggarly  curs 
would  repeat  the  fame  language,  and  hold 
correfpondence 


n6         THE     FORESTERS, 

correfpondence  with  the  bailiffs,  attornies, 
&c.  after  they  had  got  home.  Whenever 
any  trifling  quarrel  happened  in  the  families 
of  the  tenants,  they  would  magnify  it,  and 
fill  their  letters  with  complaints  of  the 
licentioufnefs  of  the  people,  and  plead  for 
a  tighter  hand  to  be  held  over  them. 

Such  fpeeches  as  thefe  were  frequently 
made,  and  fuch  letters  read,  in  the  hearing 
of  Mr.  Bull's  wife  and  fteward.  Their 
language  grew  by  degrees  to  be  the  current 
language  of  the  family,  and  Bull  himfelf 
liftened  to  it.  His  choler  rofe  upon  the 
occafion,  and  when  his  hangers-on  obferved 
it,  they  plied  him  with  ftronger  dofes,  till 
his  jealoufy  and  hatred  were  excited,  and 
a  complete  revolution  in  his  temper,  with 
regard  to  his  tenants,  took  place,  agreeably 
to  the  mod  fanguine  and  malevolent  wifhes 
of  his  and  their  enemies. 

The  firft  erfetl:  of  this  change  was,  that 
his  clerks  were  ordered  to  charge  not  only 
the  prices  of  the  goods,  which  the  tenants 

{hould 


THE     FORESTERS.  117 

{hould  purcbafe,  but  to  make  them  pay  for 
the  paper*  on  which  their  bills  of  parcels 
and  notes  of  hand  were  written,  and  that 
at  a  very  exorbitant  rate.  This  was  fo  in- 
tolerable an  abufe,  and  withal  fo  mean,  pit- 
iful and  beggarly  an  expedient  to  pick  their 
pockets,  that  they  held  a  meeting  among 
themfelves,  and  refolved  not  to  buy  any 
more  of  his  goods,  as  long  as  this  impofi- 
tion  lafted  ;  and  by  way  of  contempt,  they 
hanged  and  burned  the  effigies  of  the  ftew- 
ard,  and  other  perfons  who  were  fufpe&ed 
of  having  advifed  to  thefe  new  meafures. 

The  refentment  (hewn  by  the  tenants 
on  this  occafion  was  quite  unexpected. 
The  fecret  favourers,  and  real  authors  of 
the  mifchief,  began  to  be  afraid  that  they 
had  gone  too  far  for  the  firft  attempt.  Bull's 
journeymen  were  in  an  uproar  about  it, 
left,  by  the  failure  of  his  trade,  they  mould 
be  out  of  bread  ;  and  to  fhorten  the  (lory, 
he  was  obliged  to  give  up  the  point  of 
making  them  pay  for   the  paper  ;  thougk 

Madaip 

*  Stamp  ad,  1765. 


u8         THE     FORESTERS. 

Madam  had  the  fmgular  modefty  to  make 
a  declaration,  that  it  was  a  mere  matter  of 
expediency,  and  that  me  had  power  and  right 
"  to  bind  them  in  all  cafes  whatsoever," 
notwithftanding  Mr.  Cull's  mojl  gracious 
conccflion  at  that  time.* 

This  was  conflicted  by  the  tenants  as  a 
•moft  impudent  and  barefaced  affumption  ; 
for  whatever  rights  Mr.  Bull  might  pretend 
to  have  as  their  old  mafter  and  landlord, 
yet  they  never  had  any  idea  of  a  miftrefs 
over  them  ;  and  though  they  very  com- 
plaifantly  returned  him  their  thanks  for 
his  prefent  goodnefs,  yet  as  they  fufpecled 
that  there  was  more  mifchief  hatching, 
they  began  to  inquire  more  narrowly  than 
ever  into  his  right  and  title  to  the  land  on 
which  they  lived.  They  looked  over  old 
parchments  and  memorandums,  confulted 
council  learned  in  the  law,  and  after  due 
deliberation,  they  were  fully  convinced,  that 
their  oivn  title  was  at  leaft  as  good  as  Mr, 
and  that  they  had  a  right  to  refufe  him  any 

rent 

'Repeal  of  the  ib.mp  a<5t,  and  declaratory  acT:,  i]6(h 


THE     FORESTERS.  1       m 

rent  or  acknowledgment,  if  it  were  prude-nt 
for  them  to  excrciie  it. 

Mr.  Bull's  jealoufy  was  now  increafed 
with  regard  to  their  intentions,  and  his 
fcribbling  retainers  frequently  accufed  them 
of  ingratitude  and  difobedience,  and  a  long 
•premeditated  d.efign  to  fet  up  for  independ- 
ence ;  a  thing  which  they  had  not  yet 
thought  of,  and  probably  never  would,  if 
this  abufive  treatment  had  not  put  it  into 
their  heads. 

But  though  by  thofe  means  they  were 
led  into  an  inquiry,  and  a  train  of  thinking, 
which  wtre  quite  new  to  them  ;  yet  as  old 
habits  are  not  eafily  broken,  and  their  affec- 
tion for  their  mafter  was  very  itrong,  they 
endeavoured,  with  a  candour  which  did  them 
honour,  to  transfer  the  blame  from  him  to 
his  wife  and  Reward,  to  whofe  machina- 
tions they  knew  he  was  a  dupe.  Thefe  bad 
counfellors  foon  renewed  their  attempts  in 
another  ftiape,  by  raifmg  the  rent,  and  put- 
ting an  advanced  price  upon  the  goods ;  and 


Z2*         THE     FORESTERS. 

"by  means  of  additional  clerks,  packers,  por- 
ters, watchmen,  draymen,  &c.  who  were 
continually  in  waiting,  and  to  all  of  whom 
fees  were  to  be  paid,  the  trade  laboured 
under  great  embarrafiments,  and  fome  of 
the  foreflers  were  quite  difcouraged,  others 
were  vexed  and  impatient,  while  fome  of 
the  better  tempered  of  them,  endeavoured 
to  perfuade  the  reft  to  keep  up  the  commu- 
nication as  long  as  they  could.  They  were 
loth  to  quarrel  with  their  old  mafter,  and 
yet  could  not  pocket  the  affronts  and  abufes 
to  which  they  were  daily  expofed. 

During  this  fullen  interval,  many  letters 
patied,  many  books  and  precedents  were 
examined,  and  much  ink  was  fhed,  in  a 
controverfy,  which,  however  incapable  of 
a  decifion  in  this  way,  might  have  been  com- 
promifedy  if  Mr.  Bull's  fir  ft  thoughts  had 
been  as  good  as  his  fecond  ;  but  he  was  fo 
completely  under  management,  as  not  to 
fee  his  true  intereft.  It  was  a  common 
faying  among  his  neighbours,  "  John  Bull's 
wit  comes  afterward  5"  and  in  fact  it  did 

not 


THE     FORESTERS.         m 

not  come,  in  this  cafe,  till  too  late,  for 
when  a  caufe  cnce  gets  into  the  law,  there 
are  fo  many  quirks,  evafions,  demurs,  and 
procraftinations,  that  it  is  impoifiblc  to 
make  a  retreat,    till   one   or  both   of    the 

•parties    have    feverely    fmarted    for     thuir 

vtemcri:v. 


i%%         THE     FORESTERS. 


nrr> 


letter  x. 

Mr.  Bull  attempts  a  new  Mode  of  Traffic 
which  difgufs  his  Tenants. — They  refufe  to 
receive  his  Prefents.—His  fingular  Kcfcnt" 
merit  again]}  John  Codline,  and  thi 
Effects  which  it  produced. 


DEAR   SIR, 

I  SUPPOSE  you  are  by  this  time 
impatient  for  the  ftory  of  the  law-fuit  \  how 
it  began,  and  how  it  was  carried  on  and 
ended.  I  will  give  it  to  you  as  briefly  as 
fo  long  and  intricate  a  matter  will  bear  to 
be  told  ;  and  I  am  apprehenfive  ycu  v/ill 
think  that  Mr.  Bull  was  fo  ill  a  politician, 
or  fo  badly  advifed,;  as  actually  to  pick  a 
quarrel  with  his  bed  cuilomers.  But  facts 
will  fpeak  for  themfelves.  Know  then, 
that  by  the  advice  of  his  dear  wife,  and 


THE     FORESTERS.  123 

lier  gambling  junto,  Mr.  Bull  was  prevailed 
upon  to  fend  a  dozen  pounds  of  tea  to  each 
of  his  tenants,  as  a  prefent^  in  token  of  his 
extreme  good  will  to  them,  and  becaufe  he 
knew  that  they  loved  it ;  and  at  the  fame 
time  to  order  his  clerks  to  charge  three 
pence  for  the  paper  and  pack-thread  in 
which  each  pound  of  this  exhilerating 
weed  was  wrapped.  This  trifling  fum  he 
expected  would  be  paid  on  demand,  in  ac- 
knowledgment of  their  good  will  to  him  as 
their  kind  and  generous  landlord,  who  had 
protected  and  defended  them  againft  all 
oppofers,  and  would  flill  continue  to  pro- 
tect and  defend  them  as  his  beloved  chil- 
dren, and  obedient  humble  fervants. 

The  knowledge  of  his  intention  hap- 
pened to  come  to  them  fooner  than  the 
prefent,  and  they  began  to  argue  thus 
among  themfelves— "  Ha  !  how  comes 
this  ?  What  is  freer  than  a  gift  ?  If  Mr. 
Bull  really  intends  the  tea  as  a  prefent, 
why  does  he  exact,  three  pence  ?  Had  he 
offered  it  to  us  as  an  article  of  mcrchandiie, 
I  2,  as 


124         THE     FORESTERS. 

as  ufual,  we  might  have  taken  it  if  we  had 
liked  the  price,  or  left  it  if  we  had  not ; 
but  this  is  a  new  way  of  trading  to  which 
we  have  not  been  accuftomed.  There  is  a 
defign  in  this.  If  we  receive  this  prefent 
and  pay  the  trifling  acknowledgment  of 
three  pence,  by  and  by  we  fhall  have  a  pref- 
ent with  fix  pence  annexed,  and  another 
with  a  (hilling,  and  fo  on.  If  we  once 
eftablifh  a  precedent,  there  is  no  knowing 
where  to  flop,  and  by  thefe  prefents  we 
may  be  gulled  out  of  all  our  loofe  corns, 
and  afterwards  our  real  eftates  may  be  de- 
manded!  No,  it  is  better  to  prevent  an 
evil  than  to  cure  it.  We  will  have  none  of 
your  prefents,  Mr.  Bull,  if  this  is  to  be  the 
confequence.  We  have  paid  our  debts 
well — you  have  had  the  exclufive  benefit  of 
our  trade,  and  have  become  rich  by  it,  and 
now  in  your  old  age  you  are  grown  trick- 
ifh.  It  is  time  for  us  to  be  on  our  guard 
and  keep  a  fharp  look  out ;  for  if  a  man 
does  not  take  care  of  himfelf,  who  can  he 
expect  will  take  care  of  him  V*  Fortified 
with  thefe  arguments,  they  waited  for  the 

approach 


THE     FORESTERS.  la5 

approach  of  the  meffengers,  who  were  on 
the  road  with  the  prefents. 

One  of  them  came  to  Charles  Indigo's 
houfc,  and  with  Mr.  Bull's  compliments 
begged  his  acceptance  of  a  package  of  tea. 
"Throw  it  into  that  cellar,  faid  Charles, 
and  let  it  lie  there  till  I  have  confidered  of 
the  matter." 

Another  came  to  William  Broadbrim 
^— but  as  the  way  to  William's  manfion 
was  through  a  long,  crooked,  miry  lane,  he 
had  ordered  the  porter  to  flop  him,  and 
give  him  liberty  to  return  without  deliver- 
ing his  menage. 

Peter  Bullfrog  did  the  fame  ;  but 
fome  part  of  the  tea  being  fmuggled  into 
the  houie,  as  foon  as  Peter  knew  it,  he 
threw  it  into  the  gutter. 

John  Codline  had  the  greateft  difficulty 
about  Mr.  Bull's  prelent.     He  would  glad- 
ly have  fent  back  the  meflenger,  but  un- 
luckily 


ra6  THE     FORESTERS. 

luckily  for  him,  the  gate  which  led  to  his 
houfe  was  held  fall  by  Bull's  Under  Stew- 
ard, who  conftantly  watched  and  attended 
there,  to  obferve  who  went  in  and  out, 
which  fervice  he  was  more  particularly  fond 
of,  becaufe  he  expected  a  douceur  for  open- 
ing and  (hutting  the  gate.  Having  admit- 
ted the  mefTenger  and  received  his  penny,  he 
ftiffly  refufed  to  let  him  out  again  without 
having  delivered  the  prefent.  They^*  was 
tendered,  but  this  could  not  prevail ;  the 
family  were  uneafy,  they  were  loth  to  af- 
front Mr.  Bull,  and  yet  determined  not  to< 
receive  his  prefent.  They  could  not  ac- 
count for  the  conduct,  of  the  under  fteward 
on  any  other  principle  than  this,  that  he  ex- 
pected to  get  a  {hare  of  the  three  pence,  and 
of  all  other  profits  arifmg  from  future  pref- 
ents  ;  and  was  afraid  he  mould  lofe  it  if  he 
let  the  mefTenger  return.  The  family  was 
called  together  In  the  chapel,  where  they 
held  a  long  confutation,  fent  feveral  mefla- 
ges  to  the  under  fteward,  who  held  faft  the 
gate,  and  finally  refufed  to  open  it.  They 
were  driven  at  length  to  an  extremity,  and 

threw 


THE     FORESTER  1  127 

threw  the  tea  into  the  vault,  where  it  perifh- 
cd,  at  the  fame  time  protefting  that  the 
whole  blame  ought  to  be  charged  on  the 
under  fteward,  as  thev  had  no  intention  of 
injuring  Mr.  Bull  if  they  could  have  avoid- 
ed it. 

As  foon  as  this  was  known  in  Mr.  Bull's 
family,  his  wife  fell  into  a  violent  hyfleric 
fit,  and  in  her  raving  phrenzy  denounced 
all  the  vengeance  which  it  was  in  her  pow- 
er to  execute,  on  thefe  refra£tory,  ungrate- 
ful tenants,  who  would  not  accept  a  pref- 
ent  when  it  was  fo  freely  offered  to  them. 
But  when  fhe  came  a  little  to  herfelf,  fhe 
was  perfuaded  by  her  gambling  companions 
not  to  attempt  any  thing  againfl  the  whole 
body  of  the  tenants,  left  they  fhould  be 
driven  by  neceflity  to  form  an  union  a- 
mong  themfelves,  which  might  defeat  the 
plan ;  fhe  therefore  propofed  to  Mr.  Bull  to 
fin  pie  out  one  of  the  moft  refraclorv  of 
them,  and  fhew  his  refentment  in  a  partic- 
ular manner  to  hiw>  hoping  that  the  others 
would  be  intimidated  and  let  him    fuffer 

alone. 


128  THE     FORESTERS. 

arlone,  and  be  glad  to  get  off  f p  well  them* 
felves.  The  perfon  fingled  out  for  the  ob- 
ject of  refentment  was  John  Godline,  and 
the  mode  of  refentment.  was  as  ridiculous 
as  it  was  malicious,  for  it  was  nothing 
more  nor  lefs  than  to  fend  a  bailiff,  with  a 
pack  of  blood-hounds,  to  ftand  before  the 
great  gate  that  led  to  the  front  of  his  houfe.* 
This,  it  was  thought,  would  ftrengthen  the 
authority  of  the  under  fteward  who  had  the 
key  of  the  gate,  and  would  reduce  the  fam- 
ily to  this  dilemma,  either  to  receive  no 
company  and  carry  on  no  bufmcfs,.  or  elfe  to 
fubmit  to  Mr.  Bull's  new  mode  of  trading. 

The  reafon  affigned  for  this  particular 
mode  of  revenge  was,  that  Mr.  Bull,  as 
lord  of  the  manor,  claimed  a  kind  of  fove- 
reign  right  to  the  high  way.  He  had  for; 
a  long  time  exacted  an  acknowledgment, 
from  all  paiTengers  ;  whenever  they  hap- 
pened to  meet  any  of  his  horfes  or  carriages 
en  the  road,  whether  he  was  there  himfelf 
or  not,  they  were  obliged  to  doufe  the  hat, 

or 

*  B^fto^ort  A&,  1774, 


THE     FORESTERS.  127 

ar  they  might  be  fure  of  receiving  a  ftroke 
of*  the  whip,  if  not  of  being  run  down  by 
his  fervants,  who  had  fpecial  orders  not  ta 
let  any  omiiTion  of  this  nature  pafs  unpun- 
tfhed. 

In  confcqucnce  of  this  manoeuvre  on  the 
part  of  Mr.  Bull,  every  perfon  who  had 
any  bufinefs  to  do  with  John  Codline  waa^ 
Hopped  in  the  road,  and  ordered  to  go  back, 
or  pafs  by,  like  the  Prieft  and  Levi'te,  on  the 
other  fide.  However,  thofe  who  had  a^ 
mind  to  fee  him,  found  means  to  climb' 
over  the  fence,  or  to  go  up  a  narrow  lane, 
which,  by  the  help  of  a  (tile  and  a  foot- 
path, led  them. to  Codline's  back  door. 

This  fpecies  of  punifhrncrrt  expofed  Mr," 
Bull  to  the  ridicule  of  all  his  neighbours. 
It  alio  proved  quite  ineffectual  to  the  pur- 
ppfe  for  which  he  defigned  it.  Inftead  of 
hindering  company  from  coming  to  Cod- 
line's  houfe,  it  brought  more  •,  and  he  re- 
ceived many  letters  from  thofe  who  could 
not   come  in  pcrion.     But,   what  was   o£ 

more 


i5o         THE     FORESTERS. 

more  fervice  to  him  than  letters  or  vifits 
was  this,  that  many  who  were  indebted  to 
him  came  and  made  payment,  and  thofe 
who  had  at  various  times  received  favours 
from  bim  when  they  were  in  diltrefs,  fent 
him  prefents,  and  encouraged  him  to  keep 
up  a  good  heart,  promitbig  to  ftand  by  him 
to  the  laft  extremity,  if  he  mould  be  redur 
ced  to  it. 

It  has  been  obferved,  that  one  advantage 
which  Mrs.  Bull  expected  would  arife  from 
this  fpecimen  of  her  refined  policy  was,  that 
it  would  difunite  the  tenants,  and  frighten 
fome  or  perhaps  all  the  others  into  a  com- 
pliance with  the  new  mode  of  traffic.  This 
expectation  was  grounded  on  one  of  the 
fables  of  Efop,  which  relates,  that  a  fox 
who  had  been  caught  in  a  trap,  and  difen- 
gaged  himfelf  by  the  lofs  of  his  tail,  when- 
ever he  appeared  among  the  foxes,  was  the 
object  of  their  ridicule  \  upon  which,  he 
endeavoured  to  perfuade  them  that  he  had 
been  travelling  to  learn  fafhions,  and  that 
the  neweft  fafhion  was  for  foxes  to  cut  off 

their 


THE     FORESTERS.         131 

their  tails  as  a  ufelefs  and  burden fome  ap- 
pendage, and  boafted  how  much  more  light 
and  nimble  he  had  become  fince  he  had 
parted  with  that  incumbrance  ;  to  which 
an  old  fox  replied,  that  if  he  would  do  juf- 
tice  to  his  argument,  he  ought  to  produce 
the Jh f a rs  with  which  he  had  cut  off  his  tail, 
for  the  conviction  of  his  brethren. 

This  fable,  and  the  moral  couched  un- 
der it,  raifed  a  great  deal  of  vain  expecta- 
tion and  triumph  in  the  family  of  Mr.  Bull; 
but  the  forefters  had  another  of  their  own. 
making,  which  was  a  match  for  it.  A  man 
meeting  a  ferpent  in  the  field,  (truck  at  him 
with  a  ftick,  and  there  being  but  one  in  his 
view  he  thought  to  kill  him  immediately  ; 
but  the  fnake  fet  up  fuch  a  hifs  as  brought 
a  dozen  more  out  of  their  holes,  who  attack- 
ed the  proud  murderer  in  front,  rear,  and 
flank,  and  obliged  him  to  take  to  his  heels 
for  fafety.  This  fable  was  fo  much  admired 
among  the  forefters  at  that  time,  that  they 
had  an  engraving  made  on  all  their  meffage 
cards,  of  a  wounded  ferpent,  with  this 
motto,  Join  or  die.  Adieu. 


m        THE     FORE  ST  E  R  S. 


Eettec  xi. 

The  Quarrel  begins  in-  earnejl  and  is  carried 
into  the  Law. — Conducl  of  the  Managers 
on  both  Sides.— -The firfi  Verdi  cl  in  favour 
of  the  Forefters  given  at  Saratoga  Ha//. 


BEAR    SIR> 

1  HE  infult  which  the  forefters  fup- 
pofed  to  be  put  on  them  by  the  obftrudtion , 
of  the  road,  as  mentioned  in  my  laft,  cauf- 
ed  a  ferious  alarm,  and. induced  them  to- 
call   a  meeting  of  the  heads  of  the  feveral 
families   to  confult  for  their  awn   fafety. 
The  refult  of  this  meeting  was  to  endeav- 
our, by  all  peaceable  means  in  their  power, . 
to  effect  an  accommodation  ;,.  but  if  that 
mould  fail,  to  prepare,  in  the  beft  manner 
they  could,  to   aflert   and   maintain   their  r 
rights,. pofieflions  and  properties. 

In 


THE     FORESTERS.  w3 

tn  profecution  of  the  former  part  of  their 
plan,  they  wrote  letters  to  Mr.  Bull,  and  to 
feveral  members  of  his  family;  and  with 
refpect  to  the  latter  part,  they  came  to  a 
refolution  to  buv  nothing  more  of  him  till 
he  miuld  change  his  rode  of  conduct,  and 
treat  them  as  he  had  formerly  done. 

In  the  letters  which  they  wrote  on  this 
occafion,  thou:h  they  profelTed  a  great 
deal  of  refpefl  and  affection  for  the  old 
gentleman  himfelf;  they  omitted  to  fend 
their  compliments  to  his  wife.  This  was 
more  than  Madam  could  bear.  She  there- 
fore, after  confulting  with  her  gambling 
companions,  determined  upon  the  two  fol- 
lowing points  ;  firft,  that  no  anfwer  at  all 
mould  be  given  to  the  letter  ;  and  fecondly, 
that  an  action  at  law  mould  be  entered, 
and  the  tenants  ejected  from  their  poflef- 
fions.  She  would  not  however  have  come 
to  this  latter  determination,  if  fne  had  not 
been  aflured  by  perfons  who  pretended 
thoroughly  to  underftand  their  family  fe- 
crcts,   that  the  forcfters  would  not  dareu 

defend 


i34         THE    FORESTERS. 

defend  their  title  in  law ;  but  on  the  firft 
appearance  of  a  legal  procefs,  would  fub- 
mit  to  any  terms  of  accommodation  which 
her  ladyfhip  might  think  proper  to  impofe. 
Full  of  this  idea,  fhe  roundly  fwore  that 
fhe  would  fee  them  pro/Irate  at  her  feet,  be- 
fore me  would  make  up  the  matter  with 
them  on  any  terms  whatever-. 

Influenced  by  her  paffions,  Mr,  Bull's 
choler  rofe  to  the  higheft  pitch.  As  lord 
of  the  manor,  he  placed  bailiffs  and  blood- 
hounds in  the  high  way,  and  denied  all 
paflage  to  any  perfons  without  his  licenfe. 
He  then  called  upon  all  the  counsellors 
and  attornies.  to  whom  he  had  given  a  re- 
taining fee,  and  who  were  very  numerous, 
to  exert  all  their  learning  and  eloquence 
in  maintaining  his  caufe,  prominng  them 
not  only  a  regular  payment  of  their  fees, 
■but  a  generous  allowance  for  difburfements 
and  incidental  charges,  to  be  paid  at  fight 
-by  a  draught  on  his  banker;  and  when 
the  caufe  fhould  be  gained,  that  each  one 

ihould 


THE     FORESTERS.  135 

Ihould  be  entitled  to   a  plantation  in  the 
foreft. 

These  fagacious  gentlemen,  (many  of 
"whom  were  of  Madam's  own  junto)  find- 
ing that  they  had  a  fat  client,  contrived  to 
hujbatid  the  jobs  and  fpin  out  ihe  caufe 
Jecundum  artein.  They  were  old  profi- 
cients in  the  fcience,  and  knew  very  well 
how  to  take  double  receipts  of  their  fta- 
tioners,  bailiffs,  meflengers,  and  other  re- 
tainers, /'.  e.  one  receipt  for  the  exact  fum 
paid,  and  another  for  double  the  lame  fum  *, 
thele  latter  were  always  produced  as  vouch- 
ers in  the  fettlement  of  accounts,  and  in 
-the  glorious  uncertainty  of  the  law  were 
admitted  under  the  name  of  duplicates.  It 
would  divert  you  to  fee  the  numberlefs 
items  which  they  crowded  into  their  bills 
of  coft,  and  the  various  pleas  and  pre- 
tences which  were  formed  for  demurring 
and  continuing  the  caufe  from  one  femoii 
to  another  ;  while  they  were  feeding  their 
client  with  the  hope  that  in  every  next 
ieflion  it  would  be  decided, 

On 


IJH5         THE     FORESTERS. 

Ok  the  other  hand,  the  forefters  finding 
that  Mr.  Bull  had  retained  fo  many  learned 

•  counfellors,  ferjeants  and  barrifters  in  his 
fervice,  and  that  he  had  by  far  the  longeft 

•  purfe,    were    obliged    to    ufe  the  greateft 
economy  in  conducing  their  defence.     On 

looking  round  to  fee  who  was  the  moft 
prudent,  the  moft  deliberate,  and  the  mod 
-determined  among  them,  and  to  whom 
they  might  with  fafety  commit  their  caufe, 
they  unanimoufly  pitched  upon  Walter 
Pipeiveetfs  grandfon  George  ;  who,  being 
elected  their  chief  attorney,  modeftly  ac- 
cepted the  office  on  this  generous  condition, 
that  they  mould  not  infift  on  his  receiving 
any  fee  or  reward,  becaufe  he  conceived 
that  in  ferving  them  he  was  doing  no  more 
than  his  duty.  This  inftance  of  magna- 
nimity was  interpreted  by  them  as  a  furc 
omen  of  fuccefs. 

George  was  a  man  of  good  undcrftrmd- 
•:ing  and  true  fpunk  ;  he  had  made  confid- 
;  crable  progrefs  in  the  ftudy  of  the  law  for 
.his  own  amufement,  and  had  praclifed  at 

the 


THE     FORESTERS.  137 

-the  bar  in  the  defence  of  his  own  family- 
claims  againlt  the  encroachments  of  Lewis. 
His  abilities  were  of  fuch  a  nature  as  to 
rife  and  mine  with  the  opportunities  which 
called  them  into  action.  This  was  alfo 
the  cafe  with  divers  other  perfons  in  the 
families  of  the  forellers  ;  who  would,  per- 
haps, never  have  thought  of  engaging  in 
the  itudy  of  the  law,  had  not  this  co.ntro- 
vcrfy  been  agitated  ;  but  would  have  re- 
mained in  the  (late  which  is  thus  elegantly 
defcribed  by  the  poet. 

u  Full  many  a  gem  of  purefl:  ray  ferenc, 
The  dark  unfathom'd  caves  of  ocean  bear  ; 

Full  many  a  flower  fs  born  to  blufh  unfecn, 
And  wade  its  fweetnefs  on  the  defart  air." 

This  circumftance  was  predicted  in  the 
hearing  of  Mr.  Bull's  wife,  by  a  very  learn- 
ed and  honeft  gentleman,  who  would  have 
difluaded  her  from  giving  her  hufband  fuch 
bad  advice  as  to  plunge  himfelf  into  that 
deep  ditch,  the  law,  out  of  which  there  is 
no  coming  till  the  laft  farthing  be  paid. 
K  "  it 


i3S         THE     FORESTERS. 

"  If  there  are  any  feeds  of  genius,"  faul 
this  faithful  advifer,  "  they  are  drawn  into 
a£Hon  by  public  ferments  and  troubles  ;  but 
might  have  remained  in  time  of  tranquillity 
forever  ufelefs  and  unknown,  perhaps  at 
the  plough,  under  a  fhed,  or  among  the 
lowed  clafs  of  mechanics."*  This  fage 
hint  was  totally  difregarded,  becaufe,  as  I 
before  obferved,  too  much  confidence  was 
placed  in  a  fet  of  advifers,  who  pretended 
to  know  all  the  family  fecrets  of  the  foreft- 
ers.  But  the  prediction  was  fully  verified 
when  this  law-fuit  brought  to  the  bar  one 
from  his  farm,  and  another  from  his  mer- 
chandize, one  from  his  fhed,  and  another 
from  his  fhop,f  till  in  facl:  they  became  a 

match, 

*  Vide  Debates  in  Parliament,  March  16,  1775. 

f  This  circumftanee  gave  occafion  to  the  following 
bagatelle,  written,  as  is  fuppofed,  by  fume  difafFected 
or  perhaps  difappointed  wag,  in  one  of  the  families. 

See  fell/  on  a  lofty  feat, 
And  humble  wifdom  at  her  feet  ! 
On  borfeback  fee  the  beggar  ride, 
With  princes  walking  by  his  fide. 

Fafe 


THE  FORESTERS.    13* 

match,  in  point  of  numbers  at  Ieaft,  for  the 
whole  ho  ft  of  Mr.  Bull's  attornies. 

The  firft  aclion  was  brought  againfl: 
John  Codline,  who  was  deemed  the  mod 
furly  and  refractory  of  the  whole  number. 
It  was  thought  if  he  could  be  caft,  the 
ochers  would  of  courfc  fubmit.  In  this 
way  of  proceeding,  Mr.  Bull  acted  like  that 
fpecies  of  dog  which  bears  his  name,  and 
which  is  known  to  attack  his  enemy  by 
the  head. 

The  caufe  was  learnedly  argued  at  the 
Court  of  Bunker  ball,    and  the  arguments 
in  favour  of  the  forefters  made  a  very  un- 
expected 

Pale  Crifpin  has  his  laft  foregone, 
To  fcrve  himfelf  and  fave  his  town 
And  Snip  the  taylor's  (hears  are  loft, 
Becaufe  he's  got  a  higher  pofl. 

So  have  I  fecn  the  kitchen  pot, 
When  fei  0:1  coals  proTufely  hot, 
Thr'iw  up  its  fediraent  to  fcura, 
BK1  »  dance  ainidA  the  fbaaii 

K  2 


i4c  THE     FORESTERS. 

expecled  and  very  deep  imprefhon  on  the 
managers  for  Mr.  Bull.     They  found  it  a 
much  more   ferious   affair   than  they   had 
imagined,  and  thought  it  bed  to  flop  fhort 
and  have  the  cafe  hung  up>  that  they  might 
confult   their  books  over  again,    and  pre~ 
pare  themfelves   by  better  authorities  and 
allegations  at  the  next  hearing.      After  a, 
long    time    they    contrived    to  Jhift   their 
ffitwndf  and  let  John  alone.    They  advifed 
Mr.  Bull  to  fend  for  fome  lawyers  out  of 
Germany,  who  had  been  more  ufed  to  this 
kind  of  pleading,  and  to  lay  an  attachment 
on  the  eft  ate  of  Peter  Bullfrog,    and  the 
farm  called  Casfarea  ;  where  they  expected 
to    gain    fome    greater    advantage,    partly 
becaufe   the   tenancy  was   different,  being 
founded  on  courtefy  and  not  on  leafe,  and 
partly  becaufe  of  the  diffentions  which  they 
heard  were  fubfifling  in  thefe  families.     In 
this  interval  alfo  Madam  Bull's  refentment 
was   raifed   io  high,   that  {lie  fwore  point 
blank  that  jiot  one  of  thefe  refractory  fcoun- 
drels  fhould  enter  her  hulband's  doors,  nor 

hav* 

*  March,  1776. 


THE     FORESTERS.  141 

have  the  lead  connexion  with  him,  but 
that  (lie  would  drive  them  off  from  the 
land,  and  re-people  the  foreft  with  another 
let  of  men. 

When  they  had  heard  of  this  refolution, 
the  heads  of  all  the  families  in  one  of  their 
tonfult;itions,  came  to  a  determination  to 
pubiilh  an  advertifement,  letting  forth  the 
various  abufes  and  grievances  which  they 
had  fufFered  from  Mr.  Bull,  his  wife,  and 
her  junto  ;  and  declaring  that  they  looked 
upon  the  country  as  their  oiuti,  and  them- 
felves  free  from  any  obligations  to  him,  and 
at  liberty  to  look  out  for  other  markets, 
and  invite  other  merchants  to  form  connex- 
ions with  them.  This  tranfa&ion  was  {o 
important  an  era  in  the  controverfy,  that 
the  fourth  of  July,  the  day  on  which  the 
advertisement  was  dated,  has  ever  fince  been 
celebrated  as  a  day  of  feftivity.  The 
morning  of  that  anniverfary  is  ufhered  in 
with  a  firing  of  guns  and  fluttering  of  pi- 
geons. At  noon  you  may  hear  fome  young 
lad  fpouting  a  declamation  in  favour  of  free 

trade  ; 


14*  THE     FORESTERS. 

trade  ;  which  is  generally  followed  by  a 
bowl  of  punch  and  a  rump  of  beef,  and 
the  day  is  concluded  with  a  fong  and  a 

dance. 

In  the  progrefs  of  the  action,  feveral 
points  of  law  were  argued  at  different 
times  with  much  fkill  and  learning.  On 
one  of  thefe  occafions  George  was  reduced 
to  a  dilemma,  and  his  opponents  thought 
him  abfolutely  filenced  ;  but  fuddenly  rec- 
ollecting himfelf,  he  rofe  fuperior  to  them,* 
and  compelled  them  again  to  move  for  a 
continuance.  Thus  the  caufe  was  kept 
fufpended  till  the  third  year  was  almoft 
clofed.  At  length  a  vaunting  braggadocio 
of  a  barrifter  on  Mr.  Bull's  fide,  who 
thought  to  carry  all  before  him,  was  fo 
completely  anfwered  and  confuted  in  an 
obftinate  argument,  that  a  verdict  was  giv- 
en at  Saratoga  hall  in  favour  of  thofe  plan- 
tations, which  had  been  fued  for  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  manor.  This  verdict 
relieved  the  foreflers  in  fome  degree,  and  it 

was 
*  Trenton,  1776. 


THE     FORESTERS.         145 

was  hoped  would  prove  a  good  precedent 
for  the  decifion  of  the  other  fuits  which 
were  meditating  againfl  their  brethren  in 
the  fouthern  part. 

The  unfortunate  barrifter  was  feverely 
reflected  on  by  Mr.  Bull's  wife,  for  not  do- 
ing his  duty ;  and  he  was  obliged  to  jus- 
tify himfelf  by  producing  his  inftruclions, 
and  by  telling  a  number  of  ferious  truths 
refpecting  the  foreft  and  the  forefters, 
which  Mrs.  Bull  had  often  heard  before  but 
would  not  believe.  The  relation  of  thefe 
truths  was  fo  very  ofrenfive  that  me  influ- 
enced her  hufband  never  more  to  employ 
him  ;  and  as  he  could  get  no  other  bufi- 
nefs  in  the  law,  he  afterward  employed 
himfelf  in  writing  plays  and  romances,  in 
which  he  was  more  fuccefsful. 


144         THE     FORESTERS. 


Letter  xii. 

The  Forefters  apply  for  Help  to  Mr.  Lewis- 
— are  firft  treated  with  Evafton — after- 
ward  obtain  their  Requeft— Alarm  in  Mr, 
Bull'j  Family — His  Conference  with  his 
Wif—Her  Manoeuvres  upon  the  Occafton 
—Difappointed  by  the  Inflexibility  of  the 
Forefters. 


DEAR    SIR, 

X  OU  may  well  fuppofe  that 
a  three  years  law-fuit  was  a  very  expenfive 
undertaflng  on  both  fides ;  and  you  wiH 
wonder  how  the  forefters,  circumftanced 
as  they  were,  could  ftruggle  with  fuch  an 
antagonift ;  efpecially  when  the  high  way 
was  fo  obftruc~ted  that  they  could  not  car-* 
ry  their  provifions  to  market  to  procure  them 
cafh.     The  truth  is,  that  though  they  were 

ferved 


THE     FORESTERS.  145 

ferved  gratis  by  their  prime  counfellor,  yet 
they  were  obliged  to  give  promifibry  notcg 
to  the  attornies,  fcriveners,  bailiffs,  and  mef- 
fengers,  whom  they  employed  under  him ; 
but  as  the  profpedr.  of  payment  was  diftant, 
the  notes  palled  at  a  diicount,  and  the  only 
remedy  in  their  power  was  to  iffue  men, 
which  inftead  of  lefTening  increafedthe  dif»- 
ficuity. 

They  had  early  forefeen  this  difficulty, 
and  applied  privately  to  Mr.  Lewis,  Mr. 
Frog,  and  Lord  Strut,  to  borrow  money 
on  intereft.  Thefe  old  curmudgeons, 
though  each  of  them  looked  with  arr  envi- 
ous eye  on  Mr.  Bull,  and  fecretly  wifhed 
he  might  lofe  the  cauie,  yet  were  induced 
by  various  confiderations  to  evade  the  ques- 
tion propofed  to  them  by  the  foreflers* 
<c  We  muil,  faid  they,  keep  up  appearances 
with  our  old  neighbour  ;  we  have  accounts 
open  with  him,  as  well  as  claims  upon  fome 
portions  of  land,  to  which  our  title  is  no 
better  than  his  ;  we  may  draw  ourfelves  in- 
to a  fcrape,  and  fct  our  own  tenants  a  bad 

example3 


i45         THE     FORESTERS. 

example,  for  who  knows  but  the  fame  ar- 
guments may  avail  with  them  to  refufe 
their  rents  to  us  ?  Befides,  how  do  we 
know  whether  thefe  fellows  will  ever  be 
able  to  pay  ?  They  offer  to  mortgage  the 
manor  to  us,  but  the  title  is  yet  in  difpute, 
and  how  do  we  know  whether  it  be  their's 
or  Mr.  Bull's  ?"  Thefe  were  the  fecret 
reafons  which  induced  them  to  evade  a  di* 
reel;  anfwer  to  the  meflengers  5  and,  like  true 
courtiers, 

MTo  fqueezc  their  hands,  and  beg  them  come  to- 
morrow." 

But  as  foon  as  the  verdict  was  given  at 
Saratoga  hal/y  they  began  to  change  their 
mind,  and  wifhed  not  only  to  make  them 
debtors,  but  even  to  enter  into  contracts  to 
a  large  amount. 

Mr.  Lewis  was  the  fir  ft  to  make  advan- 
ces, and  meeting  the  merTengers  one  day  on 
'change,  he  accofted  them  thus :  "  Your 
fervant,  gentlemen — I  congratulate  you  on 
your  fuccefs ;  you  are  welcome  to  my  houfe, 

and 


TtfE     FORESTERS.  147 

;md  ware-houfe,  and  table.  I  will  lend  you. 
a  few  livres  to  help  you  to  finiih  the  con- 
troverfy  •,  and  if  Mr.  Frog  will  advance  a 
few  (livers,  I  will  give  him  my  bond  for  fe- 
eurity.  Befides,  I  will  confeat  that  my  own 
counfellors,  barriiters,  and  attornies,  whom 
I  have  retained,  fhall  aflift  you  at  the  next 
feflion,  and  I  will  fee  if  I  cannot  open  the 
high  way,  that  you  may  bring  your  pro- 
duce to  market.  When  you  fee  Lord 
Strut,  give  my  compliments  to  him,  and 
tell  him  what  I  have  promifed,  and  I  dare 
fay  he  will,  out  of  friendfhip  to  me,  and  for 
the  fake  of  our  old  family  compaft,  give  you 
fane  aiiifi nice ;  for  look  ye,  gentlemen,  I 
will  be  hoiieft  with  you,  I  mean  to  promote 
my  own  intereft  by  ferving  you,  and  I  am 
fure  he  has  the  fame  meaning. 

This  change  in  the  fentiments  and  lan- 
guage of  Mr.  Lewis,  was  immediately  made 
known  to  Mr.  Bull,  by  means  of  fome  run- 
ning footmen,  who  frequently  carried  news 
from  one  houfe  to  the  other.  Confternation 
feized  the  whole  family,  and  Mrs.  Bull  her- 

fclf 


i43  THE     FORESTERS. 

felf  began  to  think  it  a  very  ferious  matter,; 
and  that  it  was  neceffary  to  do  fomething 
immediately  to  prevent  worfe  confequen- 
ces.  She  therefore  held  a  curtain  confer- 
ence with  Mr.  Bull  on  the  fubjeit.,  thus — 

Jllrs.  B.     Well,  my  dear,  what   do  you. 
think  of  the  conduct  of  your  neighbour 

Lewis  ? 

Mr.  B.  Why  I  think  he  is  a  deceit- 
ful dog,  and  means  to  ruin  me.  If  thefe 
fellows  get  him  for  their  friend,  he  will 
draw  in  Lord  Strut  and  Nrc  Frog,  and  I 
{hall  have  them  all  to  contend  with  at 
once  j  and  therefore  I  think  we  had  better 
compromife  the  matter  with  the  tenants, 
and  let  them  take  the  land,  if  they  will, 
and  go  to  the  D-v-1 ;  why  mould  I  keep  on 
throwing  away  good  money  after  bad  ;  I 
am  over  head  and  ears  in  debt  now,  and  I 
wim  to  flop  where  I  am,  without  getting 
any  deeper  into  the  law. 


Mrs.  B.     I  agree  with  you,   my  dear, 

;  with  tl 
tenants 


that  he  is  a  deceitful  dog,  and  I  wim  the 


THE     FORESTERS.  149 

tenants  could  know  his  true  character  :  it" 
they  did,  I  am  perfuaded  they  would  not 
put  any  confidence  in  him.  There  is  a 
number  of  very  fenfibie  pcribns  among 
them,  and  by  the  difcourfe  which  I  have 
had  with  fome  who  know  their  fecrets,  I 
bjlicvc  that  means  might  yet  be  found  to 
divide  them,  and  to  detach  them  from  the 
■intereft  of  Lewis  •,  and  if  you  will  let  me 
manage  the  matter,  I  have  no  doubt  that  I 
ihall  be  able  to  accomplifh  it. 

Foor  John  fetched  a  deep  figh,  and  faid 
inwardly — Ah,  I  have  let  you  manage  my 
matters  fo  long,  that  you  have  almoil 
■brought  me  to  ruin  !  "Then  raifing  his  voice 
and  wiping  his  eyes,  he  replied,  Well,  my 
dear,  I  have  told  you  my  mind  plainly,  but 
if  you  think  you  can  do  any  thing  to  fave 
me,  pray  be  ipeedy  •,  I  would  gladly  keep 
the  tenants  attached  to  me  for  the  benefit 
of  their  trade,  which  is  a  matter  of  more 
confequence  than  their  rent,  and  if  I  mould 
[y  lofe  the  land,  I  wi(h  to  be  again  coiv» 
X-ccled  with  them  in  bufinefs. 

M 


ISO         THE     FORESTERS. 

Mrs,  B.  Never  fear,  I  do  not  doubt 
but  we  {hall  find  means  to  keep  the  land 
and  have  the  trade  too.  I  know  how  to 
fweeten  them  and  bring  them  to  good  hu- 
mour again. 

As  foon  as  this  conference  was  ended, 
lhe  wrote  a  billet  in  a  very  complaifant  ftyle, 
but  in  a  hand  fcarcely  legible,*  and  was  in 
fuch  a  hurry  to  fend  it,  that  fhe  cculd  not 
wait  fcr  one  of  the  clerks  to  copy  it,  pre- 
ferring Mr.  and  Mr".  Bull's  compliments 
to  the  gentlemen  tenants,  informing  them 
that  it  was  not  intended  to  trouble  them 
any  farther  for  the  payment  of  paper  and 
pack-thread,  which  had  been  the  occafion 
of  the  controverfy  j  but  to  fettle  all  mat- 
ters by  a  reference,  and  that  fuitable  per- 
forms mould  foon  be  deputed  to  confer  with 
them,  or  any  of  them  on  the  premifes. 
This  billet  was  hurried  away  by  an  exprefs, 
and  actually  arrived  before  the  fcrefters 
had  heard  of  Mr.  Lewis's  intended  kindnefs 
to  them.  But  they  received  it  with  con- 
tempt, 


THE     FORESTERS.         i5r 

tempt,  and  gave  no  other  anfwer  to  it  than 
this,  "  Let  Mr.  Bull  withdraw  his  atlion 
and  clear  the  road,  and  we  will  talk  with 
him ;  but  as  to  his  wife,  we  will  have  noth* 
ing  to  do  with  her.1' 

After  they  had  given  this  anfwer,  word 
was  brought  them  of  the  good  will  of  Mr. 
Lewis,  which  was  received  with  the  great- 
er joy  imaginable.  He  was  accounted  the 
fineft  gentleman  in  the  whole  country,  and 
all  the  (lories  which  they  had  heard  of  him, 
through  the  medium  of  Bull's  family,  were 
fet  down  as  lies.  He  was  regarded  as  the 
protedtor  of  the  injured,  the  helper  of  the 
diftreiTed,  and  the  friend  of  the  rights  of 
mankind. 

&  "While  the  praifes  of  Lewis  were  thus 
echoed  from  houfe  to  houfe,  the  deputies 
of  Madam  Bull  arrived.  They  were  in- 
ftructed  by  her  ladyfhip  to  enter  into  free 
converfation  with  the  foreflers,  or  any  of 
them,  publickly  or  privately  ;  to  tell  them 
that  they  were  greatly  deceived  if  they  took 

Mr. 


i5*         THE     FORESTERS. 

Mr.  Lewis  for  their  friend  ;  that  he  wai 
an  arch,  fly,  deceitful  fellow,  and  that  no 
truft  ought  to  be  put  in  him  ;  that  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Bull  were  very  amicably  difpofed 
toward  them,  and  willing  to  forget  and 
forgive  all  that  was  pail,  to  renew  the 
former  intercourfe,  to  take  off  all  the 
charges  and  burdens  which  had  been  com- 
plained of  ;  to  help  them  to  pay  the  debt 
which  they  had  incurred  by  the  law-fuit  ; 
and  as  the  greatefl  proof  imaginable  of 
Mrs.  Bull's  particular  favour  to  them,  me 
would  admit  any  of  them  to  vifit  her  in 
her  own  drawing-room,  and  give  them  a 
feat  at  her  card-table.  As  a  token  of  her 
fincerity  in  thefe  profeflions,  fhe  fent  feveral 
prefents  to  their  wives  and  daughters,  and 
gave  the  deputies  a  large  purfe  of  money, 
to  be  diftributed  privately  among  the  mod 
influential  perfons  in  the  feveral  families. 

The  deputies  had  fcarcely  alighted,  be- 
fore they  fent  their  footman  to  the  door  of 
:  the  houfe  where  the  heads  of  the  families 
-  //.ere  afTembled,  with  a  meflage  of  compli- 
ments 


H 


THE     FORESTERS.  iS3 

merits  to  announce  their  arrival,  and  afk 
permifTion  to  make  a  friendly  vifit.  The 
porter  refuted  entrance  to  the  footman, 
and  he  returned,  without  having  delivered 
his  mefTage.  The  deputies  then  wrote  the 
purport  of  their  errand,  and  fent  it  to  the 
porter,  who  delivered  it,  and  the  following 
anfwer  was  returned — 

"  Gentlemen,  we  cannot  hear  any 
inve£hves  againft  our  good  friend  Mr. 
Lewis-  If  your  matter  is  in  earneft,  tell 
him  that  he  mult  withdraw  his  action  and 
clear  the  road.  This  is  all  from  your 
humble  fervant, 

In  behalf  of  the  Forefters, 

H.  L.     Chairman" 

Disappointed  and  chagrined,  but  not 
wholly  difeouraged,  the  deputies  attempted 
privately  to  get  into  fome  of  the  houfes  ; 
but  they  were  refufed  entrance.  They 
wrote  letters  and  threw  them  in  at  the 
windows,  or  put  them  into  the  key-holes, 
but  all  to  no  purpefe.  The  flrmnefs  and 
L  inflexibility 


W         THE     FORESTERS. 

inflexibility  of  the  forefters  aftonifhed  them, 
and  they  were  obliged  to  return  with  aching 
hearts,  and  tell  their  mafter  and  miftrefs 
that  the  foreft  was  loft  forever. 

And  now   was  verified  the  old  faying, 

"  Earth  has  no  curfe  like  love  to  hatred  turn'd  ; 
*  Hell  has  no  fury  like  a  woman  fcorn'd." 
I 

But  Madam's  fury  and  its  confequencesj, 
will  be  the  fubjeft  of  my  next. 

Adieu. 


V 

THE     FORESTERS*  155 


letter   XIII. 

Mrs.  BullV  Rage,  and  its  Ejfecl  on  the 
Neighbours.— Several  Families  affociate  U 
defend  their  Right  to  the  High  Way — 
Quarrel  opens  ivith  Lord  Strut  and 
Mr.  Frog. — The  Forejlers  profecute  their 
Contrcverfy  and  obtain  a  Jecond  Verdict.-— 
Mr.  Bull'/  real  Friends  interpofe,  and 
convince  his  Wife  of  her  Error. — She 
advifes  him  to  compromife  the  Matter.— 
Hcftgns  a  Quit -Claim  of  the  ForeJ}. 


DEAR    SIR, 

NOTHING  could  exceed  the  rage 
into  which  Mrs.  Bull  was  thrown  by  this 
disappointment.  "  O  thefe  curfed,  itub- 
born,  ungrateful,  disobedient  wretches,  to 
rcfufe  all  my  invitation:-,  s.nd  fpurn  at  my 
eijfeft  cf  friendftip  and  reconciliation  I 
L  2  What, 


156  THE     FORESTERS. 

What,  not  admit  my  deputies  into  their  hcu- 
fes  !  Did  ever  any  woman  fuffer  fuch  dif- 
grace  ?  Well,  faith,  I  will  be  revenged,  and 
they  fhall  feel  the  power  of  my  vengeance. 
I  will  profecute  them  to  the  utmoft  extrem- 
ity of  the  law  ;  ay,  and  beyond  law  too,  for 
I  will  fet  their  houfes  on  fire  over  their 
heads,  and  drive  them  oiF  the  land  !  And 
as  to  that  deceitful  dog  of  a  Lewis,  I  will 
raife  fuch  a  hornet's  nefl  about  his  ears, 
that  he  (hall  repent  his  bargain  !  If  Lord 
Strut  attempts  to  help  him,  I'll  lay  an  at- 
tachment upon  his  richeft  farms.  And  as 
for  Nic  Frog,  if  he  lends  them  money,  I 
will  break  up  his  ware-houfe,  and  fell  all 
his  goods  by  auction.  I  will  fatiate  my 
vengeance  on  the  whole  pack  of  them, 
and  if  I  fall  myfelf  among  the  general 
wreck,  I  {hall  have  the  glory  of  dying  like 
Samfon  in  the  ruin  ef  my  enemies." 

The  rage  which  Mrs.  Bull  indulged  on 
this  occafion,  and  the  noife  which  fhe  made 
in  her  raving  fits,  raifed  a  great  alarm  in 
the  family,  and  as  hyfterics  are  faid  to  be 

catching, 


THE     FORESTERS.  157 

catching,  fo  the  diftemper  fpread  into  the 
two  next  families,  viz.  into  thofe  of  filler 
Peg  and  brother  Patrick*  The  former 
imagined  that  it  was  Mr.  Bull's  intention 
to  call  in  Lord  Peter  to  his  aid,  becauie  he 
had  been  of  late  fomewhat  complaifant  to 
thofe  of  his  natural  children,  who  rcfidcd 
in  the  family  ;  and  the  latter  expected  that 
he  mould  be  treated  in  the  fame  manner 
as  the  fcreflers,  becaufe  he  had  complained 
of  fome  reflraints  and  impofitions  from  his 
brother  John  Bull,  in  refpec"t  to  his  trade 
and  butineis  which  was  that  of  a  linen- 
draper.  Old  jealoufies  and  grudges  were 
revived  on  this  occafion,  and  the  whole 
neighbourhood  was  in  confufiom  The 
dogs  in  Peg's  family  kept  a  con  Rant  howl- 
ing and  barking,  and  were  anfv/ered  by 
thole  of  Mr.  Bull.  Several  of  them  actu- 
ally ran  mad,*  and  Bull  was  obliged  to 
place  guards  at  his  doors  and  gates,  who 
attacked  the  curs  with  clubs,  and  killed  fev- 
eral  on  the  fpot.  In  the  midft  of  this  hurly 
burly,  his  houfe  was  fet  on  fire,  and  was 

actually 
*  Protcflant  aflbciationf  1779  and  178^. 


158         THE     FORESTERS. 

actually  feen  blazing  in  thirty-fix  places  at 
once  -,*  the  fire  even  penetrated  Madam's 
drawing-room,  and  her  card  party  were 
obliged  to  hand  buckets  and  pump  the  en- 
gine •,  and  it  was  not  without  the  greatefb 
exertions  that  the  whole  manfion  was  faved 
from  utter  deftruction. 

A  difficulty  alfo  arofe  from  another 
quarter,  where  it  was  little  expected.  The 
meafure  which  Mr.  Bull  had  adopted  of 
flopping  the  high  way,  and  fearching  ail 
carnages,  provoked  all  the  neighbours^  who 
thought  it  a  great  infringement  of  their 
common  rights  ;  but  as  he  was  a  perfon  of 
fo  much  wealth  and  power,  they  were 
afraid  openly  to  conteft  that  point  with 
him.  At  length  an  elderly  widow  lady, 
of  large  property,  with  whom  he  had  al- 
ways lived  on  friendly  terms,  arid  who  gen- 
erally went  by  the  name  of  Madam  Kcde> 
took  the  liberty  to  tell  him,  that  fhe  could 
no  longer  fuffer  her  neighbours  and  herfelf 
to  be  fo  impofed  upon  ;   that  the  high  way 

was 

*  Lord  G.  Gordon's  mob. 


THE     FORESTERS.  159 

was  common  to  all  j  that  he  had  no  right 
to  flop  pafTcngers  and  examine  them,  but 
that  every  body  ought  to  go  about  their 
lawful  bufinefs  without  let  or  hindrance, 
and  that  ihe  was  determined  to  form  a 
combination*  with  Mr.  Frog,  Mr.  Lewis, 
Lord  Strut,  and  all  the  other  neighbours, 
to  remove  the  incumbrances  which  Mr. 
Bull  had  thrown  in  the  way,  and  clear  the 
pafTage. 

This  combination  extended  to  other  ob- 
jects, betides  clearing  the  high  way.  They 
were  all  difpofed  to  help  the  forefters  againft 
Mr.  Bull,  though  in  different  ways.  Lewis 
had  already  lent  them  money  and  feed  law- 
yers to  plead  for  them.  Lord  Strut,  though 
rich  in  landed  intereft,  yet  generally  antici- 
pated his  revenues,  (or  as  the  vulgar  phrafe 
is,  ate  the  calf  in  the  cow's  belly)  he  there- 
fore had  no  money  to  fpare  •,  but  to  oblige 
his  friend  Lewis,  he  laid  an  attachment  on 
a  foutherly  corner  of  the  forefi,  which  for 

merly 

*  Armed  neutrality  fermed   by  the  Emprcfs  of 
Ruflia,  &c.  • 


l6o  THE     FORESTERS. 

merly  belonged  to  him;  and  which  from 
the  numerous  flowers  with  which  it  a- 
bounds,  had  got  the  name  of  Terra  Florida, 
At  the  fame  time  he  attached  one  of  Mr. 
Bull's  favourite  hunting-feats,*  which  com- 
manded- an  extenfive  profpe£t,  and  was  fit- 
uate  extremely  convenient  for  hunting, 
fowling,  and  fifhing.  It  had  formerly  be- 
longed to  Strut,  but  he  had  foolimly  loft  it 
by  (taking  it  in  a  game  of  nubift>  which  he 
played  with  Mr.  Bull.  It  was  a  doubt  in 
law  whether  real  eftate  could  be  held  by 
fuch  tenure,  but  Bull  had  pojfejfiony  and  that 
you  know  is  eleven  points  of  the  law.  At 
any  rate,  it  would  oblige  Bull  to  defend  ; 
and  that  would  coft  him  money,  and  divert 
fome  at  leaft  of  his  lawyers  from  the  bull- 
nefs  of  the  foreft. 

A  secret  correfpondence  had  for  fome 
time  been  carried  on  between  the  fore  Iters 
and  Mr.  Frog,  for  a  loan  of  cafh,  and  a 
mercantile  contract.  Bull  had  fufpe&eei 
it,  but  could  not  prove  it,  till  one  night, 

his- 
•  Gibraltar. 


THE     FORESTERS.  161 

his  myrmidons  caught  a  meflVger  from 
the  foreft  and  fearched  his  pockets,*  in 
which  were  found  certain  letters  and  other 
pipers,  which  were  fuppofed  to  amount  to- 
full  evidence. 

Upon  this  occafion  an  advertifement  was 
publifhed,  according  to-  fafhion,  juftifying 
the  meafures  about  to  be  taken,  and  deplo- 
ring the  evils  which  were  connected  with 
them.  However  fmall  a  fhare  of  credit 
thefe  publications  obtain,  it  is  generally  as 
much  as  they  deferve. 

To  make  (hort  work  with  Frog,  Mr.  Br.ll 
got  a  fearch-warrant,  and  fent  a  bailiff  to 
his  richeft  ware-houfe,f  who  entered  it, 
per  fas  aut  nefas,  tumbled  over  the  mer- 
chandife,  under  pretence  of  fearching  for- 
ftolen  goods  ;  and  having  taken  away  as- 
many  as  he  pleafed,  by  a  writ  of  venditioni 
mponas%  he  put  them  up  at  auction,  and  it; 
is  faid,   made  a  fortune  by  this  job.     Mr* 

Lewis 

*  Capture  of  Mr.  Laurens* 
|  St  Euftatiu* 


tte         THE     FORESTERS. 

Lewis  was  fo  exafperated  at  the  outrage 
thus  committed  on  his  friend  Frog,  that 
by  a  writ  oifci re  facias,  he  laid  claim  to  the 
ware-houfe  and  its  contents,  and  brought 
in  Bull  for  damages. 

In  fhort,  Mr.  Bull  now  found  himfelf 
foufed  over  head  and  ears  in  that  deep 
ditch,  the  law.  Like  Ifhmael  of  old,  his 
hand  was  againfl:  every  man,  and  every 
man's  hand  againfl  him.  Look  which  way 
foever  he  would,  he  found  enemies,  and 
his  own  family  were  continually  buzzing 
in  his  ears,  that  he  would  bring  his  affairs 
to  ruin. 

By  the  afliftanee  derived  from  the  loans 
which  they  had  negociated  with  Lewis  and 
Frog,  and  the  additional  counfellors  and 
attornies  which  Lewis  employed  for  them, 
the  forefters  purfued  the  controverfy  with 
as  much  vigour  as  the  forms,  delays  and 
uncertainty  of  the  law  would  permit.  No 
tefs  than  four  years  longer  were  confumed 
in  this  expenfive  quarrel,  and  Mr.  Bull's 

numerous 


THE     FORESTER?,         163 

numerous  retinue  of  lawyers  were  employ- 
ing themfelves  in  the  various  chicanery  and 
tergiverfations  of  their  profefiion,  all  the 
while  fattening  on  the  profits  of  the  fuit  ; 
whilft  his  debt  was  growing  at  fuch  a  rate, 
that  he  was  at  his  wit's  end  to  keep  the 
intereit  from  accumulating  as  well  as  the 
principal.  At  length,  by  a  capital  manoeu- 
vre of  I'ipewecd's  grandfon  George,  aided 
by  the  counfellors  of  Lewis,  the  caufe  was 
brought  to  a  hearing  at  Tprk  court,  and 
the  arguments  were  of  fuch  efficacy,  that  a 
fecond  verdicl  was  given  in  favour  of  the 
forefters,  with  large  damages.  This  ver- 
dicl: came  fo  near  to  a  final  deciilon,  that  all 
Mr.  Bull's  friends  were  convinced  he  could 
no  longer  maintain  an  action  againft  the 
forefters  ;  and  fome  trufty  old  fervants 
ventured  to  whifper  in  Madam's  ear  that  it 
was  high  time  to  end  the  controvcrfy,  for 
that  it  could  not  poflibly  be  carried  any 
farther,  without  bringing  the  family  and 
the  trade  to  total  ruin. 

"  Look, 


i64         THE     FORESTERS. 

"  Look  ye,  Madam,  (faid  they)  how  all 
the  fchemes  which  you  have  laid,  have 
been  uniformly  defeated  ;  you  have  pro- 
fefled  to  know  the  family  fecrets  of  thefe 
forefters  ;  but  thofe  fellows  who  pretended 
to  give  you  this  information  have  deceived 
you.  In  fa£t,  they  have  no  fuch  fecrets  as 
your  ladyfhip  imagines*  What  has  been; 
openly  told  you  all  along,  is  the  truth,  and 
you  ought  long  ago  to  have  believed  it. 
Now  the  conviction  has  forced  itfelf  upon 
you,  and  you  can  no  longer  withfland  it. 
The  foreiters  have  been  defending  their 
title  in  the  law,  and  they  have  made  it  ap- 
pear fo  plainly,  that  no  jury  in  the  world- 
will  ever  give  a  verdict  againft  them.  All 
who  are  acquainted  with  new  lands5  know- 
that  the  labour  attending  the  improvement 
of  them,  is  worth  ten  times  more  than  the 
land  ;  and  in  fact  gives  the  bed  title  to  it. 
If  our  mafter  will  now  end  the  matter  by 
a  cornpromife,  he  may  yet  fave  fome  part 
of  the  manor  at  the  northward,  where  is 
th^  bell  of  hunting  and  fifhing  j  but  if  he 

purfuefr- 


THE     FORESTERS.  %(>5 

•jmrfues    the  matter  any  farther,  he  will 
■lofe  it  all." 


Thfse  faithful  remonflrancesj  enforced 
hy  the  neeeflity  of  die  cafe,  began  to  have 
force  efFetl:  on  the  turbulent  mind  of  Mad- 
am. She  faw  that  it  was  in  vain  to  con- 
tend againfl  the  opinions  of  all  mankind, 
and  therefore  in  her  next  curtain  lecture 
fhe  held  a  fhort  dialogue  with  Mr.  Bull, 
thus — 

Mrs.  B.  My  dear,  I  have  been  think- 
ing whether  it  would  not  be  bed  for  you 
to  come  to  a  fettlement  of  this  long  ccn- 
troverfy. 

Mr.  B.  (groaning  inivardlf)  So  then 
you  have  changed  your  mind,  have  you  ? 

Mrs.  B.  Yes,  my  dear,  I  find  I  have 
been  deceived  with  falfe  information,  or  I 
would  never  have  advifed  you  to  profecufc 
.the  matter  fo  far= 

Mr 


j*6         THE     FORESTERS. 

Mr.  B.  Well,  but  how  like  a  fool 
ihall  I  appear  to  the  world,  if,  after  I  have 
threatened  and  hectored  thefe  fellows, 
and  fpent  fo  much  money  to  recover  my 
right,  I  mould  give  it  up  at  this  time  of 
,day  ? 

Mrs.  B.  Why  you  know,  my  dear, 
that  you  have  formerly  made  conceffions  to 
them,  becaufe  I  judged  it  expedient. 

Mr.  B.  Ay,  then  I  retained  my  claim 
of  right ;  but  that  will  not  do  now. 

Mrs.  B.  True,  my  dear,  you  muft 
give  up  your  right  and  title  to  about  two- 
thirds  of  the  foreft  ;  but  you  may  ft  ill 
hold  the  other  third,  and  I  dare  fay  no- 
body will  conteft  your  right  to  that.  And 
as  for  that  part  which  you  give  up,  you 
may  fay  by  it  as  Lewis  did  of  that  which 
you  once-  took  from  him — (i  Kang  it,  it 
is  not  worth  the  keeping ;  it  has  always 
been  a  bill  of  coft  to  me,"  and  the  like. 

Mr,. 


THE     FORES'TERS.         x6y 

Mr.  B.  I  wifti,  my  dear,  you  had  given 
me  this  advice  feme  years  fooner,  I  mould 
have  faved  my  money  and  my  credit  too. 

Airs.  B.  Why,  my  dear,  I  tell  you  I  was 
deceived  ;  I  am  as  forry  as  you  are  for  the 
lofs  of  the  money  and  of  the  foreft,  but  as  the 
cafe  is  now  circumftanced,  I  think  a  com- 
promife  would  be  beft. 

Mr.  B.    Well,  I  will  confider  of  it. 

When  Mr.  Bull  had  taken  the  matter 
into  confideration,  he  thought  it  beft  to  wait 
the  iflue  of  the  fuit  with  Lord  Strut  about 
the  hunting-feat,  for  he  was  loth  to  lofe 
that ;  and  happily  for  him,  when  that  caufc 
came  to  trial,  it  was  argued  fo  forcibly  by 
his  lawyers,  that  Strut  was  obliged  to  give 
it  up.  As  foon  as  Bull  heard  of  that,  he 
cried  out,  "  Now  is  the  moment  of  victory 
—now  is  the  time  for  peace."  So  calling 
-one  of  his  clerks,  "  Here,  fays  he,  go  and 
fettle  the  matter  with  the  forefters,  or  their 
deputies,  on  the  beft  terms  that  you  can." 

The 


ift         THE     FORESTERS, 

The  deputies  and  the  clerk  foon  came  to  an 
agreement,  and  a  quit-claim  deed  was  drawn, 
defcribing  the  butts  and  bounds  of  the  for- 
eft,  and  diftinguifhing  what  he  gave  up  to 
them  from  what  he  retained.  This  quit- 
ch aim  being  properly  engrofTed,  he  with  a 
trembling  hand  and  aching  heart  fubfcribed 
ir,  while  Madam,  (landing  behind  him, 
could  not  help  fhedding  a  tear  at  the  fight 
of  a  tranfadlion  to  which  flie  would  never 
have  *confented  but  from  dire  neceflity. 


THE     FORESTERS.         i0» 


Letter  XIV. 

¥bi  Forejlevs  frm  a  Partner/}:'; p.— It  proves 
deficient  and  ineffecluaL — Their  Clock  out  of 
Order. — liar  Stiong-Bcx  empty.— —Dif- 
turbances  in  fome  of  the  Families. — A  Meet- 
ing is  called  to  revife  and  amend  the  Part- 
m  yjhip. 


DEAR    SIR, 

1  WAS  loth  to  break  the  thread  of 
my  narration  in  my  former  letters,  and  you 
know  that  we  prattling  folks  love  to  tell 
our  (lories  in  our  own  way,  which  we  are 
under  great  advantage  to  do  when  we  are 
writing  letters.  But  I  will  now  go  back  to 
tell  you  fomething  of  the  manner  in  which 
the  forefters  managed  their  domeftic  affairs 
daring  the  controverfy  with  Mr.  Bull,  and 
fyr  lbme  time  after  it  was  ciofed. 

M  When 


170         THE     FORESTERS. 

When  the)        1  l  'heir  cc: 

ion  with  him,  it  was  uncerta.  what  con- 
nexions they  might  form  abrpac  ut  it  was 
judged  expedient  for  ther:  .0  be  united  a- 
mong  themfelves,  that  no  one  family  fliould 
connect  itfelf  in  trade  with  any  merchant  or 
factor,  without  the  confent  of  the  others. 
In  fhort,  it  "became*  neceflary  for  them  to 
enter  into  a  partnerfhip  for  their  mutual 
intereft  and  convenience.  To  do  this  was 
a  nice  point,  and  required  much  delicacy. 
It  was  to  them  a  new  fubjec~t,  and  they 
had  an  untrodden  path  before  them.  After 
much  confutation  and  inquiry,  their  inge- 
nuity fuggefted  to  them  the  idea  of  an 
original  focial  compact.  "  Why  fhould  we 
((aid  they)  look  abroad  for  precedents,  when 
we  have  enough  among  ourfelves  ?  See  the 
beavers  in  our  own  brooks  and  meadows, 
how  they  work  in  complete  partnerfhip, 
each  family  has  its  own  cell,  and  a  number 
of  cells  are  placed  in  one  pond.  They 
carry  on  their  operations  with  peace  and 
unanimity,  without  even  the  appearance  of 
a  mrvter.      Here  is  a  perfect  republic,  ? 

complete 


THE     PO  HESTERS.         i;i 

iplete  equality,  a  ftrikirig  example  of 
order  without  fubordination,  of  liberty 
without  jealbufy,  of  imluftry  without  coer- 
cion, of  economy  without   parfimony,   of 

:  city  without  overbearing  influence 
Kvery  one  knows  his  own  bit  fmefs  and 
docs  it,  their  labour  goes  on  with  regular- 
ity and  decency  ;  their  united  efforts  ferve 
the  common  cauic,  arid  the  intereft  of  every 
one  is  involved  in  that  of  the  whole.  Let 
us  go  and  do  likewife."  The  hint  took, 
and  a  plan  of  confederation,  as  it  was 
called,  was  drawn  up  on  principles  of  the 
pureft  equality  ;  each  family  retaining  the 
entire  control  of  its  own  domeftic  concerns, 
without  any  interference  of  the  others,  and 
agreeing  to  contribute  voluntarily  its  pro- 
portion of  labour  and  money  to  fupport 
the  common  intereft. 

This  was,  in  theory,  a  very  pretty  de- 
vice, exaclly  fuited  to  a  fet  of  people  who 
thought    themfelves    completely    virtuous. 
But  as  it  often  happens  that  great  ingenuity 
ithout   much  judgment:  or  policy, 
I   2 


i'l%  THE     FORESTERS. 

fo  it  proved  here.  Thefe  forefters  did  not 
confider  that  their  intellects  were  not,  like 
thofe  of  the  beavers,  confined  to  a  few  par- 
ticular objects  ;  that  they  were  not,  like  the 
beavers,  void  of  pafiions  and  prejudices, 
void  of  ambition,  jealoufy,  avarice  and  felf- 
intereft.  With  all  the  infirmities  of  hu- 
manity, they  were  expecting  to  eftablifh  a 
community  on  a  plan  fimilar  to  that  in 
which  no  fuch  deformities  can  poffibly 
find  admittance. 

Though  for  a  while,  and  during  the 
period  of  the  law-fuit,  when  common  dan- 
ger impelled  them  to  keep  themfelves  clofe 
together,  this  plan  anfwered  the  end  better 
than  none  ;  yet  in  facl  the  notion  of  inde- 
pendence had  So  intoxicated  their  minds, 
that  having  call  off  their  dependence  on 
IVIr.  Bull,  they  thought  themfelves  inde- 
pendent of  all  the  world  .befide.  When 
they  had  got  entirely  clear  of  the  contro- 
verfy  with  him,  they  were  in  the  condition 
of  a  young  heir  jufl  come  of  age,  who 
feels  proud  of  his  freedom,  and  thinks,  he 

has 


THE     FORESTERS.  173 

has  a  right  to  act  without  control.  Each 
family  felt  its  own  importance,  and  expect- 
ed a  degree  of  refpecl:  from  the  others,  in 
proportion  to  its  numbers,  its  property,  its 
exertions,  its  antiquity,  and  other  trifling 
considerations,  which  ought  never  to  have 
had  any  place  in  a  partnerfhip  of  complete 
equality;  and  in  confequence  of  this  in- 
toxicating idea  of  independence,  each  fam- 
ily claimed  the  right  of  giving  or  withhold- 
ing its  confent  to  what  was  propofed  by 
any  or  all  of  the  others. 

In  the  club  room,  among  a  number  of 
ingenious  devices,  there  was  a  clock,  of  a 
moil  curious  and  intricate  conftrucfJon,  by 
which  all  the  common  concerns  of  the  part- 
nerfhip were  to  be  regulated.  It  had  one 
bell,  on  which  thirteen  diftincl:  hammers 
ft  ruck  the  hours.  Each  hammer  was  moved 
by  independent  wheels  and  weights,  each 
fet  of  wheels  and  weights  was  inclofed  in 
a  feparate  cafe,  the  key  of  which  was  kept, 
it  ought  to  have  been/by  the  perfon 
who  reprefented  the  family  at  club,  b 

each 


174  THE     FORESTERS. 

each  maiiuon  houfe  ;  and  every  family 
claimed  a  right  either  to  keep  the  key  at 
home  or  fend  it  to  club,  when  and  by  whom 
they  pleafed.  Now  as  this  clock,  like  all 
other  automatons,  needed  frequently  to  be 
wound  up,  to  be  oiled  and  cleaned,  a  very 
nice  and  particular  adjuftment  of  circum- 
fiances  was  neceffary  to  preferve  the  regu- 
larity of  its  motions,  and  make  the  ham- 
mers perform  their  functions  with  propri- 
ety. Sometimes  one  or  two  of  the  ham- 
mers would  be  out  of  order,  and  when  it 
came  to  the  turn  of  one  to  ftrike  it  would 
be  filent ;  then  there,  muft  be  a  running  or 
fending  home  for  the  key,  and  the  houfes 
being  at  a  confiderable  diftance,  much  time 
was  fpent  in  waiting.  Sometimes  the 
merTenger  arrived  at  an  unfeafonable  ■  hour, 
when  the  family  was  afleep,  or  abroad  in 
the  fields,  and  it  would  take  up  a  confider- 
able time  to  collect  them,  and  lay  the  cafe 
before  them,  that  they  might  deliberate 
and  determine  whether  the  key  mould  be 
fent  or  not ;  and  before  this  could  be  done* 
»  .  <   would   get  mere  out  of  order, 

By 


THE     FORESTERS.  17$ 

By  this  means,  the  club  was  frequently 
perplexed  ;  they  knew  neither  the  hour  of 
the  day,  nor  the  day  of  the  month  ;  they 
could  not  date  their  letter*)  nor  adjmt  their 
books,  nor  do  bufinefs  with  any  regularity; 

Br.siDF.s  this,  there  was  another  inconve- 
nience. For  though  they  had  a  ftrong-box, 
yet  it  was  filled  with  nothing  but  bills  of 
parcels,  and  accounts  pretexted  for  pay- 
ment, contracts  ot  loans,  and  indentures 
for  fervices.  No  meney  could  be  hud  from 
any  of  the  families,  but  by  their  own  vol- 
untary content  ;  and  to  gain  this  cenfent 
there  was  great  difficulty.  Some  had  ad- 
v  a  need  what  they  fuppofed  to  be  more 
than  their  proportion  ;  others  had  paid  lefs. 
The  former  wouid  give  no  more,  till  the 
tatter  had  made  up  their  quotas,  and  there 
was  no  authority  which  could  call  any  one 
to  account,  or  make  him  do  his  duty. 
Their  whole  eftates  were  mortgaged  for 
the  money  which  they  had  borrowed  of 
Mr.  Lewis  and  Mr.  Frog  ;  and  yet  they 
could  carry  on  no  bufinefs  in  partne] 

In 


i?6         THE     FORESTERS, 

In  facT  they  had  fofmed  fuch  an  unheard  of 
kind  of  partnerfhip,  that  though  they  could- 
run  themfelves  in  debt,  yet  they  could  not 
oblige  one  another  to  raife  any  money  to- 
difcharge  their  debts. 

Each  family,  however,  carried  on  a  fep- 
arate  trade,  and  they  contrived  to  underfell 
each  other,  both  at  home  and  at  market. 
Each  family  alfo  had  a  feparate  debt,  which 
fome  were  providing  means  to  difcharge^ 
and  others  neglected.  In  one  or  two  of 
the  families  they  went  to  loggerheads 
among  themfelves.  John  Codline's  family 
was,  for  feveral  days,  a  fcene  of  confufion 
and  diforder ;  nothing  was  feen  or  heard, 
but  curfing  and  calling  names,  kicking  fhins- 
and  pulling  nofes.  John  at  firft  tried  to 
filence  them  by  gentle  means,  but  finding 
thei'e  ineffectual,  he  at  length  drew  his 
hanger,  and  fwore  lie  would  cut  off  the 
ears  of  the  firft  that  fhould  dare  to  make 
any  more  nolle.  This  threatening  drove 
two  or  three  turbulent  fellows  out  of  doors, 
afref:  which  the  houfe  was  tolerably  quiets 

Something 


THE     FORESTERS.  IJ7 

Something  of  the  fame  kind  happened  in 
Robert  Lumber's  family,  but  he  made  fo~ 
good  a  ufe  of  his  rift  as  quelled  the  difturb- 
aace  at  once. 

In  the  family  of  Roeer  Carrier  there 
feemed  to  be  a  predominant  lurch  for 
knavery,  for  he  publickly  advertiled  that  he 
was  ready  to  pay  his  debts  by  notes  of 
hand,  fubjecl.  to  a  difcount,  the  amount  of 
whrch  was  indefinite,  becaufe  continually 
increafing  •,  and  that  whoever  did  not  take 
his  pay,  when  thus  offered,  might  go  with- 
out. The  olher  families  were  alarmed  at 
his  conduct  \  but  had  no  power  to  oblige 
him  to  deal  honeftly,  and  he  carried  his 
roguery  fo  far,  as  to  bid  them  all  defiance. 

In  this  ftate  of  debility  and  cliftracliion,' 
it  became  neceHiry  to  confult  on  fome 
;reo  for  a  better  plan  of  union.  They 
began  to  be  convinced  that  they  were  not 
.<-,  nor  capable  of  fubfifting  in  fuch  a 
ftate  of  fociety  as  had  been  adopted  from 
them.      Something   more   energetic    was 

wanted 


37S         THE     FORESTERS, 

wanted  to  compel  the  lazy,  to  check 
the  knavifh,  to  direft  the  induftrious,  and 
to  keep  the  hcneft  fvom  being  impofed  up- 
on. It  had  been  often  in  contemplation  to 
amend  the  mode  of  partnership  •,  but  now 
tlie  diibrders  in  fome  of  the  families  be- 
came lb  alarming,  that  though  they  had 
been  quelled  for  the  prefent,  it-  was  un- 
certain whether  they  would  not  break  cut 
again,  efpecially  as  one  whole  family  feem- 
ed  determined  openly  to  patronize  roguery, 
Thefe  confiderahens  ferved  to  haften  the 
change  which  had  been  contemplated.  It 
was  accordingly  moved  in  the  club,  that 
each  family  mould  appoint  one  or  more 
perfons  to  meet  together,  and  confult  upon 
fome  alterations-  and  improvements  in  the 
partnerlhip.  This  meeting  was  according-, 
ly  held,  and  the  refult  of  it  fhall  be  the  fub- 
jecl  of  my  next  letter. 

Adieu. 


THE     FORESTERS.  179 


better  xv. 

A  new   Plan  of  Partner/hip   is  propo/ed. — • 

Arguments  pro  and  con. —  It  is  eJiuWJb- 
t\L — A  Chief  Steward  appointed^  with  in- 
ferior Officers* — Hunting  too  much  in  Faflj- 
ion. — A  new  Species  of  Rats  introduced. — « 
Tit'?  FatmUes  added  to  the  Number  of 
Par!- 


1R    SIR, 

XT  is  not  in  my  power  to  give  you  a 
particular  detail  oj  the  whole  proceedings 
of  the  meeting,  which   was  held  to  reform 

1  \n  of  partnership,  in  the  manner  or 
your  parliamentary  journalifts,  who  make 
speeches  for  the  members,  perhaps  better 
than  feme  of  them  make  for  themfelvea;  but 
I  will  endeavour  to   give   you  a  fiimmarj 

of. 


l*o         THE     FORESTERS. 

of  the     principles    on    winch     they    pro- 
ceeded. 

The  profefled  defign  of  the  meeting  was 
to  reform  and  amend  the  plan  j  but  in 
facl  when  they  came  to  examine  it,  they 
found  themfelves  obliged  to  pafs  the  fame 
fentence  on  it  that  was  once  delivered  con- 
cerning the  famous  poet  Alexander  Pope, 
whofe  ufual  ejaculation  was  God  mend  me  ! 
"Mend  you,"  faid  a  hackney  coachman, 
(looking  with  contempt  on  his  dwarnfh 
form  and  humpback)  "it  would  not  be 
half  fo  much  trouble  to  make  a  new  one." 

A  new  one  was  accordingly  entered  up- 
on, and  the  fundamental  principle  of  it  was, 
not  to  fuppofe  men  as  good  as  they  ought 
to  be,  but  to  take  them  as  they  are.  u  It 
is  true"  faid  they,  "  that  all  men  are  natu- 
rally free  and  equal ;  it  is  a  very  good  idea, 
and  ought  to  be  underftood  in  every  con- 
tract: and  partnership  which  can  be  formed  ; 
it  may  ferve  as  a  check  upon  ambition  and 
other  human  p'affions,  and  put  people  in 
mind  that  they  may  fome  time  or  other  be 

called 


THE     FORESTERS.         jSi 

Called  to  account  by  their  equals.  But  it 
is  as  true  that  this  equality  is  deftroyed  by  a 
thoufand  caufes  which  exift  in  nature  and 
in  fociety.  It  is  true  that  all  be  a  Its,  birds, 
and  fiflies  are  naturally  free  and  equal  in 
fome  refpecU,  but  yet  we  find  them  unequal 
•in  other  refpects,  and  one  becomes-the.prey 
of  another.  There  is,  and  always  will  be, 
a  fuperiority  and  an  inferiority,  in  fpite 
of  all  the  fyitems  of  metaphyfies  that  ever 
exifled.  How  can  you. prevent  one  man 
from  being  llronger,  or  wifer,  or  richer 
than  another  ?  and  will  not  the  Uron^ 
overcome  the  weak  ?  will  not  the  cunning 
circumvent  the  fooliili  ?  and  will  not  the 
borrower  become ,  fervajat  to  the  lender  ? 
Is  not  this  noble,  free  and  independent  crea- 
ture man,  necefTarily  fubjecb  to  lords  of  his 
own  fpecies  in  every  ftage  of  his  exiil- 
ence  ?  When  a  child,  is  he  not  under  the 
command  of  his  parents  ?  Send  him  to 
fchool,  place  him  out  as  an  apprentice,  put 
him  on  beard  a  ftiip,  enrol  him  in  a  compa- 
ny of  militia,  muft  he  not  be  fubjeel  to  a 
jflgafter  r  Place  him  in  any  kind  of  fociety 

whatever, 


.ill         THE     FORESTERS. 

whatever,  and  he  has  wants  to  be  fuppliea, 
snd  pafiions  to  be^fubdued  ;  liis  active  pow« 
ers  need  to  be  directed,  and  his  extravagan- 
ces to  be  controlled,  and  if  he  will  not  do 
it  himielf,  fomebody  mud  do  it  for  him. 
Self  government  is  indeed  the  moil  perfect 
form  of  government  in  the  world ;  but  if 
men  will  not  govern  themfelves,  they  mull 
have  fome  governors  appointed  over  them, 
who  will  keep  them  in  order,  and  make 
them  do  their  duty.  Now  if  there  is  in  fact 
fuch  an  inequality  exifting  among  us,  why 
fnould  we  act:  as  if  no  fuch  thing  exifted  ? 
"We  have  tried  the  haver  fcheme  of  partner- 
JQrrjj  long  enough,  arid  find  it  will  not  do. 
Let  us  then  adopt 'the  practice  of  another 
kind  of  induftrious  animals  which  we  have 
among  us — -Let  us  imitate  the  bees,  who  are 
governed  by  one  fupreme  head,  and,  under 
that  direction,  conduct  their  whole  econo- 
my with  perfect  order  and  regularity." 

On  this,  principle  they  drew  up  an  entire 
new  plan,  in  which  there  was  one  chief 
fleward,  wh£  was  to  -manage  their  united 

intercfl, 


THE     FORESTERS.  iS; 

Entered,  and  be  rcfponfible  to  the  whole 
his  conduct..  He  was  to  have  a  kind  of 
council  to  advife  and  direct:  him,  and  fev- 
eral  inferior  oTicers  to  alTid  him,  as  there 
•it  be  occafion  ;  and  a  certain  contribu- 
tion was  to  be  levied  on. the  trade,  or -on 
the  eftates  of  the  whole,  which  was  to 
make  a  common  flock  for  the  fupport  ot* 
the  common  intereft ;  and  they  were  to 
erect  a  tribunal  among  themfjlves,  which 
fhouid  decide  and  determine  all  differences. 
If  nine  of  the  families  fhouid  agree  to  this 
plan,  it  Was  to  take  place1 ;  zvA  the  others 
might  or  might  not  adopt  it;  but  if  any- 
one ihould  finally  refufe,  or  it  any  fhouid 
adopt  it  and  afterward  fall  from  it,  he  was 
to  b*  looked  upon* as  an  outcaft,  and  no 
perfon  was  to  have  any  Connexion  with 
him. 

The  meeting  having  continued  a  long 

time,  everybody  became  extremely  anxious 

to  know  what  they  were  about  ;    the  door] 

were  kept   {hut,  and  no   p effort  whatever 

the  fecret  till   the  whole  was 

complel 


i84  THE     FORESTERS. 

completed.     A  copy  was  then  fent  to  each 
family,  for  them  to  confider  at  their  leifure. 

Though  curiofity  was  now  gratified,  yet 
anxiety  was  not  relaxed.  The  new  plan 
of-  partnership  went  by  the  name  of  the 
fiddle ;  thofe  who  were  in  favour  of  it  call- 
ed themfelves  fiddlers  >  and  thofe  who  oppo- 
fed  it  were  ftyled  antifiddlers*  The  former 
faid  it  was  the  beft  plan  that  human  wif- 
dom  had  ever  contrived.  The  latter  imag- 
ined it  "  pregnant  with  mifchief."  The 
former  compared  it  to  a  ftrong  fence  about 
a  rich  field  of  wheat.  The  latter  com- 
pared it  to  the  whale  that  fwallowed  up 
Jonah. 

;  In.  each  family  a  confutation  was  held 
on  the  queiiion,  Whether  it  ihould  be 
adopted  or  not  ?  and  liberty  was  given  for 
every  one  to  fpeak  his  mind  with  the  ut- 
moit  freedom.  The  objections,  anfwers, 
replies,  rejoinders,  and  rebutters,  which 
were  produced  on  this  occafion,  would- 
.mxke  a  curious  colk£Uon,  and  form  an  im- 
portant 


T1IK     FORESTER?.  it$ 

pottant  page  in  the  hiftory  cf  man.     The 

':rs   were  extremely  fond  of  haviiij 
examined,  becauf  id   it  was   like  a 

rich  e,  which  the  n 

rubbed  mines  the  brighter.    The  antijiddlers 
(aid  it  was  like  a  worm-eaten  bottom  vi  a 
(hip,  the  defects  of  which  would  more  evi- 
dently appear,   the  more  it  was  rippe 
piec  were  therefore  for  r< 

it  a:  once,  without  any  examination  at  all. 

When  they  were  urged  to  point  out  its 
defects,  they  would  lay,  "  It  is  dangerous 
to  put  fo  much  power  into  the  hands  of 
any  man,  or  let  of  men,  left  they  fhould 
abufe  it.  Our  liberty  and  property  will 
be  fafe  whilft  we  keep  them  ourfelves,  but 
v/hen  we  have  once  parted  with  them,  we 
may  never  be  able  to  get  them  back  again." 

If  the  plan  was  compared  to  a  hovfe>  then 
the  objection  would  be  made  againft  build- 
ing it  too  high,  left  the  wind  mould  blow 
it   down.      How  {hall  we  guard  it  againft 
;    how   fhall  we  fecure  it  aga^aft  rcV 
N  bci-,? 


iS6  THE      FORESTERS. 

bers  ?  and  how  {hall  we  keep  out  rats  and 
mice  ? 

If  it  was  likened  to  ?  .  I 

be  aiked,  how  Iriail  we  gu  \  mak- 

ing ?   how  fhall  we  pr     -.. it        from  run- 
ning on  the  rocks  and  quickfands  ? 

Sometimes  it  would  be  compared  to  a 
clock,  then  the  quefticn  was,  how  fhall  we 
fecure  the  pendulum,  the  wheels  and  the  bal- 
ance from  ruft  ?  who  mall  keep  the  key, 
and  who  mall  we  truft  to  wind  it  up  ? 

Sometimes  it  was  reprefented  by  apurfe, 
and  then  it  was  faid  to  be  dangerous  to  let 
any  one  hold  the  firings.  Money  is  a 
tempting  objecl,  and  the  heft  men  are  lia- 
ble to  be  corrupted. 

In  fhort,  the  whole  of  the  arguments 
againfl  it  might  be  fummed  up  in  one  word 
—jealousy  ;  which  is  well  known  to  be 
the  higheft  degree  of  republican  virtue. 

To 


THE     FORESTERS.  1S7 

To  fliew  the  futility  of  thcfe  arguments, 
h  was  obfervcd  by  the  oppofite  parly,  that 
it  was  impoflible  to  put  it  hiro  any  man's 
power  to  do  you  good,  without  at  the  fame 
time  putting  it  into  his  power  to  do  you 
hurt.  If  you  trull  a  barber  to  fhave  your 
beard,  you  put  it  into  his  power  to  cut 
your  throat.  If  you  truft  a  baker  to  make 
your  bread,  or  a  cook  to  drefs  your  meat, 
you  put  it  inro  the  power  of  each  to  poifon 
you  ;  nay,  if  you  venture  to  lie  in  the  fame 
bed  with  your  wife,  you  put  it  into  her 
power  to  choak  you  when  you  are  afleep. 
Shall  we  therefore  let  our  beards  grow  till 
they  are  long  enough  to  put  into  our  pock- 
ets, becauie  we  are  afraid  of  the  barber  ? 
fhall  we  ftarve  ourfelves  becaufe  the  baker 
znd  the  cock  may  poifon  us  ?  and  (hall  we 
be  afraid  to  go  to  bed  with  our  wives  ? 
Fie,  fie,  gentlemen,  do  not  indulge  fucji 
whims  :  Be  careful  in  the  choice  of  your 
barbers,  your  bakers,  your  cooks,  and  your 
wives ;  pay  them  well,  and  treat  them  well, 
and  make  it  their  inter  eft  to  treat  you  well, 
:  them. 
• 


x83  THE      FORESTEI. 

After  much  debate  and  difcuflion,  fomc 
of  the  families  adopted  it  without  excep- 
tion, but  in  others,   the  oppofition  was  fo 

ftrong  that  it  could  not  be  made  to  pais, 
but  by  the  help  of  certain  amendments, 
which  were  propoi'ed  ;  and  of  thefe  amend- 
ments every  family  which  thought  proper 
to  make  any,  made  as  many  as  they  pleafed. 
The  new  plan  with  its  appendage  of  amend- 
ments, cut  fuch  a  grotefque  figure,  that  a 
certain  wag  in  one  of  the  families,  like 
Jotham  the  fon  of  Gideon,  ridiculed  it  in 
the  following  fable. 

<c  A  certain  man  hired  a  taylor  to  make 
j  pair  of  fmall  clothes  ;  the  taylor  meas- 
ured him  and  made  the  garment.  When 
he  had  brought  it  home,  the  man  turned 
and  twilled  and  viewed  it  on  ail  fides;  it 
is  too  fmall  here,  faid  he,  and  wants  to  be 
let  out  •,  it  is  too  big  here,  and  wants  to  be 
taken  in  ;  I  am  afraid  there  will  be  a  hole 
here,  and  you  muft  put  on  a  patch  j  this 
button  is  not  ftrong  enough,  you  muft  itt 
en   another.       He   was   going  on    in  this 

manner. 


THE    ,-FORESTE  R  3.  189 

manner,  when  his  wife  overhearing  him, 
faid,  have  you  put  on  the  fmall  clothes,  my 
dear  ?  No,  faid  he.  How.  then,  replied 
fhe,  can  you  podibly  tell  whether  they  will 
in  you  or  not  ?  If  I  had  made  fuch  objec- 
tions to  a  gown  or  a  pair  of  (lays  before 
I  had  put  them  on,  how  would  you  have 
laughed  at  my  female  wifdom  ?  The  man 
took  his  vice,  and  laved  the  taylur 

.';  of  trouble." 

In  like  manner,  the  new  plan  oi  part- 
ncrfhip  was  tried  on,  and  was  found  to  fit 
very  well.  The  amendments  were  thrown 
by,  for  future  confederation  ;  fornc  of  them 
have  been  Cncc  adopted,  but  they  are  fo 
few  and  fo  trifling,  as  to  make  no  eflei 
difference. 

As  foon   as  a  fu'fficient  number  of  the 

families  had  adopted  the  plan,  they  began 

to  fet  it  in  operation  ;    and  unanimoufiy 

chofe  fur  their  High  Steward  and  manager, 

.  the  grandfon  of  '  peweed-. 

"erved  them  (  and  gen- 


j9o  THE     FORESTERS. 

croufly  in  conducting  the  law-fuit  ngainft 
Mr.  Bull,  that  no  perfon  was  higher  in 
their  confidence.  As  he  would  take  no 
reward  for  his  former  fervices  ;  fo  he  began 
this  new  bufinefs  with  a  declaration  of  the 
fame  kind,  and  a  proteftation  that  nothing 
could  have  induced  him  to  quit  the  fweets 
of  retirement  for  the  toils  of  public  bufi- 
nefs, but  a  difpofition  to  oblige  his  numer- 
ous friends  who  had  united  their  fuifrages 
in  his  favour.  Every  one  who  knows  him 
is  fully  convinced  of  the  fmcerity  of  his 
declarations,  and  he  has  perhaps  as  large  a 
fhare  of  the  efteem  and  affedUon  of  the 
people  in  thefe  families,  as  any  perfon  ever 
could  expect  from  a  courfe  of  faithful  and 
friendly  offices. 

Besides  him  there  is  an  under  fteward,. 
a  council  of  advice,  a  chief  clerk,  a  caihier, 
and  a  matter  of  the  hounds.  The  under 
iicward  is  a  perfon  of  a  grave  deportment, 
•much  reading  and  Ariel:  integrity ;  he  has 
written  a  large  and  valuable  treatife  on 
family  government,  and  was  largely  con- 
cerned 


THE     FORESTERS.  *9r 

t trued  in  effecting  the  compromife  with 
JMr.  Bull.  The  council  of  advice  are  cho- 
fen  from  the  feverai  families,  and  confiit 
pf  perfons  of  the  bell  education,  abilities, 
and  popularity.  The  chief  clerk  has  the 
care  of  the  mod  important  papers,  and  the 
cafhier  keeps  the  key  of  the  ftrong-box, 
which  mw  has  fomething  in  it  befides  pa- 
per. By  his  advice  the  debts  of  the  com- 
pany are  put  into  a  fair  way  of  being  paid, 
though  fome  grumbling  Hill  fubfifts  among 
thofe  who  were  obliged  to  fell  their  notes 
at  a  difcount.  The  matter  of  the  hounds 
is  an  officer,  who  it  was  at  firft  thought 
would  have  very  little  bufinefs  :  but  as  the 
wild  beafts  of  the  foreit  have  of  late  grown 
very  troublefome,  it  is  fuppefed  that  he 
will  have  his  hands  full.  There  is  too  much 
of  a  lurch  for  hunting  among  many  of  the 
forefters  ;  and  fome  have  not  been  afhamed 
to  exprefs  their  wifhes  that  the  whole  race 
of  wiid  creatures  was  exterminated  from 
the  face  of  the  earth.  There  are  others 
who  ftill  continue  of  the  mind,  that  thefe 
ed  part  of  the  . 


19*    THE  FORESTERS. 

fpecies,  and  might  yet  be  recovered  if  prop*- 
per  methods  were  ufed  to  tame  them  ;  but 
it  is  greatly  feared,  that  while  the  rage  for 
hunting  continues,  all  fuch  benevolent 
projects  will  fail  in  the  execution. 

In  fome  late  hunting  matches,  thefe  wild 
animals  difcovered  fo  much  art  and  eour> 
age,  that  feveral  of  the  hunters  were  laid  to 
fleep  in  the  bed  of  honour  ;  and  the  reft 
were  obliged  to  take  to  their  heels,  that 
they  might  "live  to  hunt  another  day." 
Some  perfons  are  of  the  mind  that  it  is  not 
bed  to  fcek  thefe  beads  in  their  dens,  but 
rather  to  guard  the  fields  and  take  care  of 
the  poultry  at  home.  Others  are  for  pur*- 
fuing  them  to  the  thicker!  (hades  of  the 
foreit.  and  this  feems  at  prefent  to  be  the 
prevailing  opinion.  What  the  fuccefs  of 
ill  hj,  time  mud  determine. 

Since  the  new  partnership  has  been  ef- 
tabMied,  hufbandry-  and  trade  have  been 
carried  on  brifldy^  the  houfes  are  full  of 
good  '  d  the  children  are  well  clad 

and 


THE     FORESTERS.  193 

and  healthy ;  but  there  is  one  inconveni- 
ence which  ufually  attends  a  full  houfe, 
and  that  is,  that  rati  are  very  numerous, 
and  a  new [penes  of  them  have  lately  found 
their  way  thither.  Some  of  them  are  very 
fat  and  ileek,  and  are  not  afraid  to  appear 
In  •  p  «1  iv  light ;  though  it  is  fuppofed 
they  burrow  under  ground,  and  have  fub- 
terraneous  communic  ttions  from  houle  tO 
lioufe.  This  is  an  inconvenience  againft 
which  no  remedy  has  yet  been  found  ; 
though  feme  people,  from  their  apparent 
;,  are  of  the'  mind  that  they  will  ci- 
ther prey  upon  one  another,  or  elfe  eat  til! 
they  burfr.. 

I  had  almoR-  forgot  to  tell  you  that  two 

new  families  have  lately  been  added  to  the 

number  of  partners.     One  is  that  of  Ethan 

woody  a  (lout,  luily  fellow,  born  in  the 

ber,  but  married  in- 

l frog,  from  whom,  after 

a  long  a  good  tract  of 

!i  originally  belonged  to  his  own 

it  was  farre]  iken  po£» 


w  THE     FORESTERS. 

feihon  of  by  his  father-in-law.  The  other 
is  Hunter  Longknife  *,  he  was  bred  in  the 
family  of  Walter  Pipeweed,  and  has  a  large 
fhare  of  his  fpirit  of  adventure.  Having 
faken  up  his  refidence  in  the  outskirts  of 
the  foreft,  he  has  had  many  a  fcuffle  with 
the  wild  beafts,  who  are  extremely  fond  of 
his  green  corn  and  young  chickens,  when^ 
ever  they  can  get  a  tafte  of  them. 


THE      FORESTERS.  i95 


Letter  xvi. 

Prefent  Stat?  if  Mr.  BuIl.—H'S  Wife  and 
his  Moth- '-. — $t  )ry  of  the  everli'fing  Taper. 
— v>  .  -.-/  f  Mr.  Lewis. — His  new 

U  "fe  and  ccf}  cjf  Mifrefs. — Condition. 


DTAR     SIRr 

XxFTER  giving:  you  fuch  a  Jong; 
detail  of  the  affairs  of  thefc  forefters,  I  will 
clofe  my  correfpondence,  for  the  prefent, 
with  a  brief  account  of  the  nutation  of  the 
principal  perlbns  wir.h  whom  they  are  or 
have  been  connected,  and  whom  I  have  had 
occafion  to  mention  in  my  other  letters. 

To  begin  with  Mr.  EulL  Though  he: 
has  given  a  quit-claim  of  that  part  of  the 
for-. it  where  his  old  fervants  and  bed  cus- 
tomers  have  poiieiTion,  ycr  he  retains  the 

northern   . 


i$6  THE     FORESTERS: 

northern  part,  together  with  fome  hunting- 
feats  which  he  promifed  to  give  up  to  the 
forefters.  The  chief  produce  of  this  north- 
ern territory  is  the  furs,  which  are  brought 
to  his  ware-houfe  and  wrought  up  by  his 
tradefmen.  Notwithstanding  the  lcfs  of 
his  title  to  the  lands  of  the  fcrefters,  they 
have  not  wholly  ferfaken  him  as  a  trader. 
He  keeps  his  fulling-mills  at  work,  and 
fupplies  them  with  cloths  of  various  kinds, 
but  they  feel  themfelves  at  liberty  either  to 
purchafe  of  him  or  his  neighbours,  or  to 
manufacture  for  themfelves.  He  is  rather 
more  ccmplaifant  to  them  in  his  own  fhop, 
than  his  factors  are  in  fome  of  his  diftant 
ware-houfes,  where  they  are  not  allowed  to 
carry  their  produce  to  market,  nor  to  re- 
ceive coffee,  cotton,  and  fugar,  as  formerly. 
However,  they  have  found  out  other  places 
where  tbey  can  buy  thefe  commodities 
without  afking  his  permiffion.  And  as 
for  that  capital  article  tea,  which  was  the 
occafion  of  beginning  the  controveriy,  they 
now  feteh  it  direcllv  from  the  original 
ware-houfe  of  old  C/;;;p-~Zv,  where  it  is  man- 
ufactured. 


'     THE     FORESTERS.  1-97 

Hfactured.  They  purchafe  thetr  Rika  and 
muflins  of  the  firfl  makers  and  dealers  vfid 
get  their  wines  directly  from  the  vineyards, 

I  have  before  told  you  that  Mr.  Bull 
formerly  lifed  to  fend  the  ordure  made  in 
his  family  to  enrich  the  plantations  of  the 
fore  fie  rs  •,  but  Gnce  his  quarrel  with  them, 
he  has  been  fomewhat  at  a  lofs  how  to 
difpofe  of  it.  At  firil  he  threw  it  into  the 
gutter*  before  his  door.  But  there  was 
fikeh  a  large  quantity  of  it,  and  the  flench 
which  it  caufed  was  fo  offer,  five,  that  this 
expedient  would  not  anfwer  the  end.  He 
then  thought  of  fending  it  to  a  place  where 
fome  of  his  family  had  been  employed  m 
botanizing^  in  hope  that  by  adding  to  the 
fertility  of  the  foil,  they  would  find  more 
encouragement  to  profecute  their  inquiries, 
and  that  he  mould  in  time  receive  fome  rent 
or  recompenfe.  This  fcheme,  like  fome 
others,  the  produ£l  of  his  fruitful  brain, 
has  been  hitherto  attended  with  more  coil 

than 

•  Convicts  employed  in  lighters  on  the  Th 
tany  Bav.  in  New  Holland. 


i98         THE     FORESTERS. 

than  profit  ;   yet  it  is  fl ill  perfifted  in,  and 
great  expectations  are  dill  indulged. 

As  to  his  domeftic  affairs,  his  wife  dill 
rules  him  according  to  her  ufual  maxims, 
and  keeps  up  her  gaming  club,  where  fhe 
wins  and  lofes  alternately  ;  but  between  the 
fhcp  and  the  drawing-room,  there  is  enough 
gained  to  pay  the  intercit  of  his  debt, 
though  it  is  not  imagined  he  will  ever  be 
able  to  pay  the  principal.  This,  like  a 
millftone  about  his  neck,  mult  finally  fink 
him. 

You  may  poflibly  be  curious  to  know 
what  is  become  of  his  mother,  whom  I  have 
formerly  mentioned  to  you  as  having  had 
feme  fway  in  his  family.  The  truth  is, 
that  iince  he  married  his  prefent  wife,  the 
old  lady  found  her  influence  decreafing  and 
retired  to  her  chamber,  where  fhe  has  been 
for  many  years  confined,  and  is  now  whol- 
ly bed-rid.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bull,  indeed 
treat  the  old  lady  with  much  decency,  and 
RaTer  none  to  intrude  upon. her,  but  fuch 

pany 


THE     FORESTERS.  195 

company  as  (he  is  fond  of.  Ola  Madam 
has  all  the  infirmities  of  age  about  her. 
She  will  not  fuffer  herfelf  to  be  touched 
nor  turned  in  her  bed  \  nor  the  room  to  be 
aired,  nor  her  linen  ihifted.  She  keeps 
her  window- fn utters  cloied-,  and  will  not 
admit  the  leafl  Tay  of  light  in  her  apart- 
ment, but  what  proceeds  from  her  own 
car. die,  which  having  been  once  dipped  i:i 
conlecrated  water,  is  fuppoied  to  poiTcfs 
all  the  virtues  of  an  everlafting  taper. 

Now  I  have  fpoken  of  Madam's  taper, 
perhaps  you  will  be  amufed  with  fome  ac- 
count of  it.  It  is  a  wax  candle  of  a  com- 
mon fize,  fet  in  an  old-fafhioned  fdver  can- 
dleftick  richly  embofled  and  gilt ;  but  the 
tuft  and  duft  cf  it  are  fo  facrcd,  that  it  is 
never  permitted  to  be  fcoured.  The  tradi- 
tion is,  that  this  candleflick  formerly  be- 
longed to  St.  Peter,  and  the  candle  firft 
placed  in  it,  is  fuppofed  to  have  been  light- 
ed at  the  sun,  and  by  a  myfterious  kind  of 
uniritcrru  ceffioHy  has  been  kept  burn- 

ing ever  fince*     By  the  light  of  this  ta 

old 


aco  TT1K     FORESTERS. 

eld  Madam  reads  her  bible  and  books  of 
devotion,  which  always  lie  on  a  table  by 
her  bed-fide. 

"Some  perfons  of  an  incredulous  turn  of 
iriind',  have  pretended  to  call  in  queftion 
this  myftery  ;  but  it  is  dill  held  facred  by 
the  old  lady,  and  by  mofl  of  Mr.  Bull's  own 
family.  There  are  fome  even  among  the 
foreflers  of.  the  fame  opinion  ;  and  fuch  is 
the  liberality  in  thefe  families,  that  no  one 
is  molefted  in  the  indulgence  of  any  inno- 
cent whim,  which  does  not  affecT:  the  peace 
of  the  families,  nor  the  intereft  of  the  part- 
nership. It  was  not  long  ,after  the  re-eftab- 
lifhment  of  harmony  between  them  and 
Mr.  Bull,  that  thefe  perfons  fent  two  can- 
dles in  one  lantern,  and  one  in  another,  to 
be  lighted  at  this  venerable  taper,  and  dipt 
in  the  confecrated  water.  Two  of  them 
•were  actually  lighted  in  old  Madam  Bull's 
prefence,  and  to  her  great  fatisfaction.  The 
third  was  lighted  at  a  taper  fuppofed  to  be 
.derived  from  the  fame  original,  but  "  hid 
under  a  bufhcl"  in  one  of  {liter  Peg's  cut- 

hcufes, 


THE     IORES  T  T.  R  S.  201 

fcottfes,  it  not  being  permitted  to  burn  pub- 
fickly  in  her  family,  where  the  only  candles 
allowed,  are  of  tbe  manufacture  of  Geneva. 

Thf.rf  has  been  as  long  a  controverfy 
between  different  opinionifts  on  this  fub- 
jec~t,  as  between  the  fe  claries  in  Liliput, 
about  breaking  the  egg  at  the  big  or  little 
end.  But  it  is  eafy  enough  to  accommo- 
date the  matter  by  granting  that  St.  Peter's 
candle,  as  well  as  thofe  from  Geneva,  were 
sriginaHy  lighted  at  the  sun  ;  that  the  fame 
fource  of  light  is  open  to  all  ;  and  that  it 
ie  of  no  coniequence  of  what  materials 
tapers  are  made,  nor  in  what  kind  of  can- 
dlefticks  they  are  placed,  nor  by  wliofe 
hands  they  are  lighted,  provided  they  give 
Jo  clear  a  light  as  to  a7ifwer  the  purpofes  cf 
vi/ijn. 

It  it  -Nnly  that  I  give  you  fome 

account  of  Mr.  Lewis.      The  adventures 

in  his  family  have  been  very  Gngular.     I 

formerly  told  you  that  he  feed  lawyers  to 

\  the  caufe  of  the  foreflers.      Thcfe 

O  fubt 


o.o%         THE     rORESTERS. 

fubtile  practitioners  foon  found  that  ther 
fame  arguments  which  they  were  obliged 
to  nfe  in  favour  of  the  forefters,  would 
apply  with  equal  propriety  to  the  cafe  of 
Mr.  Lewis's  own  family.  He  had  long 
been  a  widower,  and  the  family  was  gov- 
erned by  a  fucceffion  of  kept  miitrefies, 
who  minded  only  their  pleafures  and  the 
enriching  of  their  own  relations  and  depend- 
ants. The  tenants  were  abufed,  the  man- 
fion  houfe  was  dirty  and  out  of  repair,  and 
though  the  rents  were  paid  into  the  hands 
of  the  Reward,  yet  much  opprelhon  and 
embezzlement,  and  little  economy,  were 
the  conftant  topics  of  complaint. 

After  the  alteration,  produced  by  the 
aiTiftance  of  Lewis's  lawyers  in  the  fored, 
they  began  to  think  it  was  high  time  to 
do  fomething  of  the  fame  kind  at  home. 
The  only  peaceable  remedy  which  they 
could  imagine,  was  to  perfuade  Mr.  Lewis 
to  marry  a  reputable  woman,  who  would 
be  agreeable  to  the  family.  After  much 
argument  he  was  at  length  brought  to  fee 

the 


THE     FORESTERS.  aoj 

neceflity  of  the  cafe  ;  and,  to  prevent  a 
■  aw-fuit,  with  which  they  threatened  him, 
he  conferred  to  take  the  wife  which  they 
recommended.  She  is  a  lady  of  good  fenfe 
wild  polite  manners,  and  treats  him  with 
the  greateft  deference  and  propriety.  She 
has  had  the  manfion  thoroughly  repaired, 
the  floors  and  windows  cleaned,  and  the 
walls  whitewafhed,  and  is  not  afraid  to  let 
her  inmofl  apartments  be  vifited  by  the 
{un  and  air.  The  building  is  now  commo- 
dious, wholefome  and  pleafant,  and  the 
dirty  dog-kennel,*  which  flood  near  the 
door,  is  demolished. 

It  is  fufpecTed  by  fome  that  Lewis  ftill 
lias  a  hankering  after  his  old  connexions, 
but  he  pro fe lies  love  to  his  new  wife  in 
the  ftrongeft  terms  imaginable.  His  cafl 
off  miftrefs  has  had  the  audacity  to  infult 
the  newly  married  lady,  and  tetther  that  (lie 
lias  no  bufmei'i  to  occupy  her  apartments  ; 
that  all  Mr.  Lewis's  profeihons  are  infinccrCj 

I  that  fie  ftill  poftfies  his  heart.  If 
O  2  thefe 


jo  THE     FORESTERS. 

rhefe  ladies  fhould  go  to  pulling  caps,  Mr." 
Lewis  will  be  in  a  critical  fituation,  as  in- 
deed every  man  is  when  two  women  are 
contending  for  him.  It  is  faid  that  fome  of 
the  neighbouring  gentlemen,  who  prefer 
concubinage  to  matrimony,  have  taken  the 
part  of  the  late  miftrefs,  and  infift  on  her 
reftoration  to  bed  and  board  j  but  how  this 
matter  will  terminate,  can  be  decided  only 
by  futurity. 

He  has  alfo  been  very  unfortunate  in 
fome  of  his  diltant  plantations  and  facto- 
ries. His  black  cattle  have  caught  the  horn 
diftemper ;  fome  of  his  farm  houfes  have 
been  burnt,  and  it  is  thought  that  feveral 
years  will  intervene  before  his  affairs  will 
be  fet  to  rights. 

Thus,  my  friend,  I  have  endeavoured  to 
fulfil  my  promife  by  giving  you  fuch  an 
account  as  I  have  been  able  to  procure  of 
the  forefters  and  their  connexions.  I  allure 
you  I  am  extremely  delighted  with  the 
country  and  its  improvements,  which  ex- 
ceed 


THE     FORESTER?.  *o5 

ceed  by  far  the  expectations  of  every  per- 
fon  who  travels  this  way,  ami  has  formed 
what  he  may  think  a  jult  idea  of  the  coun- 
try, by  flaying  at  home  and  hearing  the  re- 
ports of  others.  There  is  no  pofTibility  of 
conceiving  what  a  line  country  it  is  with- 
out actually  feeing  it ;  I  therefore  recom- 
mend to  you  a  journey  hither,  for  a  two- 
fold purpofe,  viz.  to  cure  you  of  the  fpleen, 
and  to  convince  you  how  much  human  in- 
duftry  and  ingenuity  can  perform  in  a  fhort 
time,  when  nature  has  already  done  her  part 
toward  making  a  good  country  and  a  happy 
people. 

Yours,  &c. 


[The  preceding  Letters  were  written  1792.] 


aoS         THE     FORESTERS. 


iLctter  xvn. 

jfealoufy  between  Lewis  and  his  new  Wife.— 

His  Divorce  and  Expuffon. Bull's  Choler 

againjl  the  Family.— Their  AJfumption  of  a 
new  Firm,  The  Franks. — Their  Contro* 
verfy  with  Bull,  and  the  DefeBion  of  his 
Friends.— Whims,  Projetls  and  Innova- 
tions of  the  Frafiks. — Remarks  on  the  Plan 
of  Fraternization. 


dear  SIR, 

IJEING  allured  that  my  former  let- 
ters have  afforded  forne  entertainment  to. 
you  and  your  friends,  I  lhall  with  pleas- 
ure refume  my  pen  agreeable  to  your  ro 
queft,  and  continue  my  account  of  the  For- 
elters  and  their  connexions, 


THE     FORESTERS.  %cy 

My  lad  gave  you  the  lateft  information 
which  could  then  be  hid,  relative  to  the 
families  of  Mr.  Bull  and  Mr.  Lewis  ;  and 
it  is  proper  for  me  to  begin  where  I  left  orT, 
becaufe  the  circumitances  of  thole  two 
eternal  rivals  have  had  fome  influence,  and 
I  fear  will  always  have  too  much  on  the  kn- 
timents  and  tranfactions  of  my  favourite? 
fcreiters.  For,  notwithstanding  all  that 
dignity  and  independence  of  character 
which  really  exift  among  them,  and  which 
ought  to  prevail  over  every  inferior  princi- 
ple, yet  there  are  perfons  in  all  thefe  fam- 
ilies, who,  from  local  and  commercial  at- 
tachments, or  from  natural  and  political 
connexions,  are  ftrongly  inclined  to  imitate 
the  manners  and  adopt  the  principles  of 
one  or  the  other  of  thofe  ancient  rivals. 

I  have  told  you,  that  there  was  a  fufpi- 
cion  of  a  hankering  which  Lewis  indulged 
toward  his  call  off  millrefs  ;  and  that  the 
neighbouring  gentlemen  favoured  the  in- 
trigue.  This  fufpicion  has  been  fadly  ver- 
ified, and  a  long  and  bitter  controverfy  has- 

enfued. 


ao8  THE     FORESTERS. 

enfued  between  Lewis  and  the  new  wife 
who  had  been  impofed  on  him.  Her  jeal- 
oufy  was  raifed  to  a  monftrous  pitch,  and 
the  proofs  of  his  infidelity  became  fo  fla- 
grant, that  nothing  would  fatisfy  her  but  a 
divorce,  not  barely  a  mcnfd  et  thoro  but 
a  vinculo  matrimonii.  Arter  a  long  and  fol- 
emn  hearing,  the  fentence  was  pronounced 
in  due  form,  and  approved  by  the  major 
part  of  the  family  *,  who,  in  confequence, 
turned  him  out  of  doors.  The  minor  part, 
who  adhered  to  him,  were  fo  roughly  hand- 
led by  the  majority,  that  fuch  of  them  as 
could,  were  glad  to  efcape,  leaving  the  reft 
maimed  and  wounded  on  the  floors  ;  which 
were  fo  flamed  with  blood,  that  they  look- 
ed as  if  the  famous  Do£tor  Sangrado*,  and 
all  his  imps  had  been  fully  employed  in 
their  favourite  operation. 

Such  was  the  noife  and  uproar  on  this 
occafion,  thai  all  the  neighbours^  and  efpe- 
cially  thofe  who  favoured  Lewis's-  intrigue, 
were    alarmed.      Mr.  Bull,    whofe   choler 

you 

*  See  the  Adventures  of  Gil  Bias. 


THE     FORESTERS.         ao$ 

you  know  is  very  eafily  raifed,  took  thia 
opportunity  to  fwear  the  peace  againft  the 
whole  family  of  which  Lewis  was  lately  at 
the  head.  Not  content  with  this,  which 
might  have  palled  merely  for  a  dcfcnfive 
meafure,  he  entered  a  complaint  to  the 
grand  jury,  and  had  a  bill  found  again  ft 
them  "  for  riotous,  routous  and  disorderly 
behaviour/*  and  determined  to  profecute 
them  with  the  utmoit  rigour  of  the  law. 
For,  find  he,  within  himfelf,  "  If  thefe 
fellows  are  (offered  to  go  on  at  this  rate, 
they  will  fet  a  line  example  to  their 
neighbour^  and  turn  every  thing  upfide 
down.  If  the  conduct  of  matters  doe3 
not  happen  to  hit  the  humours  of  fer- 
vants,  we  fhaH  all  be  turned  out  of  doors  a;i 
well  as  Lewis.  Poor  de\i!  !  I  once  hated 
him  as  heartily  as  any  body  ;  but  now 
he  is  in  diftrefs,  I  pity  him,  and  can  fay 
lb  did  to  Benhadad,  he  is  my  brother. 
If  fuch  principles  and  conduct  mould  pafi 
unpuniihed,  no  mafter  can  be  fure  of  hij 
property,  or  power ;  all  family  govern- 
ment is  at  an  endj   and  a  ilror.g-box  is  no 

srity. 


no         THE     FORESTERS. 

fecurity.  It  is  evidently  my  duty  to  beftir 
myfelf  ;  and  befides,  what  a  fine  oppor- 
tunity is  now  prefented  to  revenge  the 
conduct  of  this  officious  family,  who 
meddled  in  my  controverfy  with  the  for- 
efters  !  Now  I  will  pay  them  double 
and  round." 

To  carry  this  refolve  into  execution,  he 
entered  into  articles  of  agreement  with 
Lord  Strut  and  Nicholas  Frog  to  ftand  by 
him  ;  and  gave  large  fees  to  the  mod  able 
pleaders,  particularly  to  Ferdinand,  Frederic 
and  Leopold,  who  profeflfed  to  have  an  inter- 
eft  of  their  own  in  fupporting  his  caufe, 
Thefe  crafty  brethren  of  the  long  robe, 
after/making  a  formal  parade  of  their  elo- 
quence at  the  bar,  contrived  by  various 
pretences ,  and  ftratagerm,  well  known  in 
their  profeflion,  to  fpin  out  the  caufe,  and 
require  additional  fums  of  money;  which 
Mr.  Bull  generoufly,  and  even  profufely 
advanced.  For  it  is  a  fettled  maxim  with 
him,  never  to  fpoil  any  piece  of  work  for 
fear  of  expenfe.     This  being,  well  known 

to 


THE     FORESTERS.  m 

to  thofe  whom  he  employs,  they  are  never 
in  a  hurry  to  finiili  a  job  ;  and  why  mould 
they,  when  they  have  fo  able  and  ready  a, 
pay-mailer. 

What  became  of  Mr,  Lewis  after  his 
divorce  and  cxpuliion,  is  uncertain.  A  let- 
ter* Iras  appeared,  pretending  to  have  been 
written  by  him,  which  fpcaks  in  ftrong 
terms  of  the  ill  treatment  he  has  received, 
and  contains  a  ftrange  compound  of  fever- 
ity  and  lenity  toward  the  family.  Some 
are  Hill  of  opinion  that  he  may  be  reftored  :, 
but  it  is  generally  thought  that  he  will  not 
be  able  very  ibon  to  mow  his  head  again 
among  his  old  neighbours. 

The  charges  which  took,  place  in  the 
family  after  his  expulfion,  were  numerous 
and  rapid.  The  new  wife  did  not  long 
preferve  her  dignity,  but  was  frequently 
1  culled  and  tumbled  by  the  rude  hand  of 
ry  frohcUbme  fellow  in  the  houfe. 
=    name  of  Lewis   was   expunged   from 

the 
■  U    .         f  i.ouic  xvnr. 


<U»  THE     FORESTERS. 

the  fign-board,  and  in  its  place  was  fublt> 
tuted  the  name  of  fome  remote  anceftors 
of  the  family  who  were  called  The  Franhs> 
and  by  this  firm  the  houfe  is  now  known. 
Various  devices  were  propofed  for  a  new 
coat  of  arms  ;  one  was  a  wheel  within  a 
wheel,  with  the  word  Jacobina  for  a  motto. 
Another  was  a  bloody  robe  mounted  on  a 
fpear,  with  the  motto,  in  terrorem.  But  it 
feems  to  be  at  length  determined,  that 
three  plain  ftripes  of  white,  red  and  blue, 
mall  be  the  device,  with  the  motto  une  et 
indivifible.  Had  there  been  but  one  colour, 
the  motto  would  have  been  more  intelli- 
gible. 

Notwithstanding  all  their  inteftine 
divisions, .  and  their  daily  and  nightly  broils 
among  themfclves  *,  yet  the  Franks  have 
had  the  addrefs  to  mow  a  bold  face  to  their 
adverfaries,  and  to  defend  their  caufe  in  the 
law  with  a  refolution  truly  honourable. 
Their  refources  are  fuppofed  to  be  confid- 
erable.  Thofe  who  quitted  the  family  were 
not  permitted  to  carry  otY  their  clothes  and 

trunks. 


THE     FORESTER*  »i3 

trunks,  Tome  of  which  contained  a  valuable 
booty.  The  old  family  plate  and  jewels, 
and  the  ornaments  of  the  devotional  clofet, 
have  been  fold  at  au&ion.  The  real  eftate 
is  in  effect,  mortgaged,  by  promifTory  notes, 
itfued  on  its  credit,  which,  though  they 
have  greatly  depreciated  in  the  market,  by 
reafon  of  forgeries  carried  on  ia  Mr.  Bull's 
family,  and  by  his  connivance,  yet  will 
probably  be  redeemed  at  fome  rate  of  dis- 
count at  prefent  unknown. 

The  Franks  have  alfo  found  means  to 
•  Mr.  Bull's  moil  powerful  pleaders, 
notwithstanding  the  large  fees  they  received 
from  him.  They  have  even  detached  Ni- 
cholas Frog  from  his  connexions  with  Bull, 
and  taken  him  into  partnerihip  with  them- 
ielves  •,  though  it  is  whifpered  that  Nicholas 
is  not  over  and  above  pleafed  with  the  new 
mode  o$  fraternization,  as  it  hath  brought 
him  into  a  Uw-fuit  with  Butt,  who  at 
once  laid  attachments  on  all  his  filks  and 
fpices.  Lord  Strut  Tras  alfo  difengaged 
himfelf  from  the  concern  ,•   Bull  grins  hor- 

xibjf 


ai4         TfHE     FORESTER  ft 

ribiy  at  hkn  for  his  infincerity,  and  threat- 
ens to  iieze  all  his  plate  and  bullion,  (of 
•which  he  has  an  immenfe  quantity)  to 
itnake  good  the  damage. 

Haying  introduced  the  word  fraterniza- 
tion >  I  mult  tell  you  that  tins  is  one  fpeci- 
men,  and  there  are  many  others,  of  that 
liberty  which  the  Franks  have  aiTumed,  of 
coining  words.  It  has  been  the  practice 
of  the  family  for  a  long  time,  and  they 
have  been  flattered  by  the  frequent  adop- 
tion and  ufe  of  their  new  words  in  oth- 
er families,  who  always  regarded  them  as 
the  moft  polite  and  plaufible,  if  not  the 
moil  deeply  learned  in  the  whole  neighbour- 
hood. When  words  have  a  real  and  defi- 
nite meaning,  it  is  of  no-eonfequence  who  is 
the  original  coiner  of  them,  nor  by  whom 
they  are  brought  into  ufe  ;  but  every  one  is 
fond  of  the  productions  of  his  own  brain, 
and  every  one  has  a  right  to  claim  and  en- 
joy the  honour  (if  there  is  any)  belonging 
to  fuch  productions.  Never  was  a  word 
better  adapted  to  any  particular  purpofc 

than 


THE     FORESTERS.  aij 

than  this.     To  fraternize,   in   the  fenfe  of 
the  Franks,  is  to  make  brethren  j  to  cc. 
bribe,  or  compel,  or  uie  means  of  any  kind 
whatever  with   other  people  to   make  them 
brethren. 

After  tlie  divorce  and  expulfion  of  Mr-» 
Lewis,  the  majority,  who  ajfumed  to  gov- 
ern the  family,  were  fo  intoxieated  with 
the  idea  of  the  liberty  which  they  enjoyed 
in  being  free  from  their  mailer,  in  toufling 
and  handling  their  millrefs,  in  picking  the 
locks  and  fearching  the  trunks  of  the  de- 
ferters,  and  breaking  up  the  old  family 
hordes,  that  they  began  to  think  this  was 
a  kind  of  liberty  which  all  families  had  a 
right  to  enjoy  as  well  as  themfeives.  They 
to  a  resolution,  to  endea- 
vour as  far  as  in  them  lay,  to  extend  the 
g«  of  this  liberty  to  their  neigh- 
bours, beginning  with  the  neareit.  They 
made 'offers  of  fervice,  either  fecretly  or 
openly,  to  bring  on  revolutions  among 
them,  or  as  they  metaphorically  exprefled 
it,   Mto  plant   the  tree  of  liberty  in  their 

gardens."" 


ax6         THE     FORESTERS, 

gardens."  This  was  what  they  meant  by 
jratemtzation.  All  who  favoured  their 
ideas  in  other  men's  families  were  called 
democrats,  and  thofe  who  were  not  fond  of 
the  fraternizing  plan  were  termed  arifio- 
crats,  words  alfo  of  their  own  coining.  To 
{how  their  contempt  of  all  titular  diflinc- 
tions,  they  difufed  the  appellations  of  Sir, 
Mcnfieur,  your  Honor,  and  the  like,  and 
fubftituted  the  name  of  citizen,  which  was 
fuppofed  to  be  equally  applicable  to  all. 
But  to  exprefs  their  own  mod  tnodejl 
opinion  of  themfelves,  in  the  loweft  of  all 
pofhble  terms,  they  affected  the  name  of 
Sans-culotte,  which  in  plain  Englifh  fignifies 
ton?-****;  a  word,  before  this  time  ap- 
plied only  to  thole  mod  contemptible  of 
the  fpecies  who  were  too  lazy  to  earn 
enough  to  buy  a  pair  of  fmall-clothes.  To 
fuch  ridiculous  lengths  will  people  go,  when 
they  fuffer  their  enthufiaftic  imagination 
to  get  the  better  of  their  judgment !  But 
the  wifeft  have  their  foibles  ;  and,  who  is 
there  that  cannot  recollect,  in  the  courfe 
of  his  life,  fome  inftances  of  indifcretion  ? 

I  should 


TH  2     FORESTERS.  217 

'I  should  not  have  detained  your  atten- 
tion fo  long  to  this  article,  had  there  not 
been  a  very  abiurd  attempt  made  to  extend 
the  plan  of  fraternization  to  the  Forefterj ; 
who  were  already  the  ddet  brethren  of  the 
Franks,  both  in  principle  and  conduct,  and 
heartily  wifhed  well  to  their  caufe — rBut  of 
this  you  (ball  hear  more  in  my  next. 

I  will  only  further  obferve,  at  this  time, 
that  there  has  appeared  in  the  family  of 
the  Franks,  a  ftrange  kind  of  zeal  on  the 
fubject  of  relight*  Before  thefe  changes 
took  place,  Mr.  Lewis,  and  the  family  in 
general,  entertained*  decent,  though  partial 
r-efpeck  for  Lord  Peter,  and  were  fond  of 
buying  thofe  devotional  books  and  trinkets, 
in  which  you  know  he  is  a  large  dealer  ; 
but  fince  the  expulfion  of  Lewis,  no  notice 
has  been  taken  of  the  old  gentleman,  ex- 
cept to  infult  him,  by  burning  all  thofe 
books  and  trinkets  which  they  could  find  in 
the.  family,  and  thus  turning  his  whole  trade 
into  ridicule  and  contempt.    To  (hew  how 

v\y  they  disregarded  all  their  former 
P  received 


ai*         THE    FORESTERS. 

received  opinions,  both  true  and  falfe, 
they  have  contrived  a  new  almanack,  from 
which  all  the  old  red-letter  days  are  ex- 
punged, and  even  the  dominical  letter  is 
omitted.  They  have  alio  revifed  their  vo- 
cabulary, and  erafed  the '  words  revelation, 
refurreBion  and  fundry  others  ;  and  by  a  new 
inscription  on  the  family  tomb,  they  have 
declared  their  disbelief  of  immortality.* 
Yet  by  an  unaccountable  inconfiftency,  they 
have  dug  up  feveral  corpfes,  which  were 
very  offenfive  ;f  and  exhibited  them  pub- 
lickly,  in  the  fame  manner  as  the  Romans 
performed  what  they  called  the  apothefis 
of  their  Emperors.  This  idle  attempt  to 
annihilate  fouls  and  to  deify  carcajfes,  has  not 
gained  them  any  credit  among  men  of  re- 
flection, becaufe  neither  one  nor  the  other 
is  fuppofed,  by  fober  people,  to  be  within 
the  reach  of  human  power. 

It 

*  "  Soimne  eternel.** 

f  Funeral    honours   of   Voltaire,    Rouffefcu,    afti 

Mirabeau. 


THE     FORESTERS.  aif 

It  is  faid,  and  I  hope  it  is  true,  that 
ihz  moil  coni:derate  among  them  are  dii- 
pofed  to  throw  a  veil  ov^er  thefe  tranfac- 
tions,  and  not  ro  make  tUemfefves  any  more 
vidiculoius,  by  oppofing  opinions  which  at 
leafl  are  innocent,  and  wheh  have  feme 
claims  to  rdped  from  their  antiquity. 

Adieu. 


P  a 


sao  THE     FORESTERS. 


Letter  xvni. 

Miffion  of  Teneg  from  the  Franks  to  the 
Forefters. — Defcription  of  Mother  Carey's 
Chickens. — BulPs  Jealoufy  and  Choler.— 
Prudence  of  the  Foreflers,  and  its  Succefs. 
——Impudent  Attempt  of  the  Chickens,  and 
its  Defeat. — Bull's  Mejage  to  Cang-hiy  and 
his  fententious  Anfwer. — Peaceable  Difpo/i- 

iioti  of  the  Wild  Beofls. Agreement  with 

the  IJhmaeliies  and  Lord  Strut. — Increafe 
of  Rats. 


DEAR  SIR, 

1  HAVE  already  given  you  fome 
idea  of  the  fraternizing  fcheme  of  the 
Franks  ;  I  fhall  now  inform  you  of  the 
means  by  which  they  attempted  to  intro- 
duce it  among  the  forefters. 

-Many 


THE     FORESTERS.  221 

Many  of  the  Franks  nad  been  in  the 
foreft,  and  had  viiited  the  plantations  and 
families  there,  not  only  dm i?!g  the  law-imt 
with  Bull,  but  after  the  difpute  had  been 
terminated.  They  had  kept  journals  and 
made  remarks  on  manners,  economy,  hus- 
bandry, manufactures,  literature,  and  other 
things  worthy  of  notice.  After  they  had 
effected  the  expulfionof  their  mailer,  t' 
travellers  were  very  fond  of  introducing 
the  fame  family  economy  which  they  had 
obferved  among  the  Forefters,  and  of  ex- 
tending the  bleflings  of  fraternity  to  them, 
by  drawing  them  into  the  controverfy  in 
which  they  were  engaged.  "Why  mould 
not  thefe  forefters  (faid  they)  bear  a  part 
of  our  burden,  as  we  did  of  their's.  We 
involved  ourfelves  in  their  quarrel  with 
Bull,  and  helped  them  to  terminate  it  in 
their  favour.  One  good  turn  deferves 
another  ;  and  it  is  now  time  for  them  to 
enter  into  our  controverfy,  and  help  us  in. 
the  fame  way." 

To 


■izz         THE     FORESTERS. 

To  execute  this  plan,  they  difpatched  a 
plauGWe,  prattling,  infmuating  petit-maitre, 
by  the  name  of  Teneg,  who  had  been  em- 
ployed in  fraternizing  the  family  of  Cal- 
vino,  a  famous  diftiller  of  gin,*  and  had 
there  been  very  fuccefsful. 

Artifices  of  the  fame  kind  will  not 
fucceed  on  all  forts  of  perfons  ;  but  a  vari- 
ation mud  be  obferved,  according  to  the 
variety  of  humours,  interefts  and  prejudi- 
ces. The  forefters  were  well  known  to 
be  a  wary  and  difcerning,  as  well  as  in- 
genious kind  of  people,  and  fond  of  novel- 
ties. To  hit  their  ruling  paffion,  and  there- 
by influence  or  deceive  their  judgment,  Te- 
neg was  furnifhed  with  a  bafket  of  birds' 
eggs,  of  a  new  fpecies,  which  had  recently 
appeared  in  the  gardens  of  the  Franks.  Of 
thefe  birds,  I  cannot  give  you  the  name  and 
description,  nor  do  I  knew  whether  they 
are  included  in  any  of  the  chiles  found  by 
natural] (is  ;  but  to  fpeak.  in  the  vulgar 
phrafe  they  are  known,  in  fome  places,  by 

the 
*  Gin  is  an  abbreviation  of  Geneva. 


THE      FORESTERS,  tiS 

the  name  of  luar-ha^As  ;  rather  impioperly, 
I  think,  becaufe  the  hawk  though, 
cious  is  yet  a  Glent  bird  r    when-.! 
are  i'o  very  noil  I         ..-..•..        to 

the  pettrel  tribe,  and  have  been  not  in  prop- 
erly called  Mother  C  com 
their  refemblance  to  a  bird  of  that  name, 
which  is  well  known  to  chirp  and  whittle 
at  the  approach  and  during  the  height  of 
a  norm. 

Tiie?e    birds    have    f  -  itlcs,. 

which  mud  be  ccmfidered  as  characleriftic 

of  the  fpecies.    One  is,  that  they  vary  their 

i  according  to  the  inftruct,ion  of  their 

keepers  j   in  this  refpect.  they  refemble 

end  the  mod  Their  of 

found,  when  not  under  any  particular  direc- 
tion, is  a  dull  monotony,  i  .1  repeti- 
tion of  , 

it  to  found  or 
with  a  vowel,  or  a  liquid  confonant ;  fuch  as* 

- — 
— -jfi,  fay  j  ,  he.      If  they  ch 

hi 

trie 


:z4  THE     FORESTER*' 

trigger,  or  any  noife  which  feems  to  be  a 
preparation  for  mifchief,  they  will  readii/ 
imitate  it,  and  the  found  will  catch  froirr 
one  to  another  like  a  feu-de-joye.  It  is 
furprifing  to  fee  how  eafily  they  can  be 
trained  and  difciplined.  Teneg,  with  a 
bird-call,  which  he  carried  in  his  mouth, 
could  bring  them  by  dozens  to  light  on  his 
head  and  moulders,  and  even  dive  into  his 
pocket,  to  pick  the  grains  which  he  carried 
there  to  feed  them.  He  could  make  them 
flatter  about  him  in  all  directions,  and  imi- 
tate any  noife  which  he  was  pleafed  to 
make.  It  is  faid,  that  he  has  imparted  this 
fecret  to  fome  choice  fpirits,  his  afTociates* 

Another  peculiarity  of  theft  birds  is) 
that  they  feem  to  have  an  averfion  to  fome 
particular  days,  and  a  predilection  for  cth^- 
ers.  On  the  twcnty-fecond  of  February 
they  are  fear  eel  y  ever  feen  on  the  wing-, 
and  are  remarkably  filent  ;  but  on  the 
tenth  of  Augufl,  and  the  twenty-fecond  of 
September,  they  appear  in  great  numbers, 
and    are    heard    to    whittle   through    the 

whole 


THE     FORESTERS.  ft** 

whale  day.  The  caufe  of  this  peculiarity 
is  one  of  the  fecrets  of  nature,  which,  it  is 
hoped,  the  learned  will  in  time  be  able  to 
penetrate.  The  vulgar  fuppofition  is,  that 
their  hilarity  in  the  months  of  Auguft  and 
September  is  owing  to  the  great  quantity 
of  the  feeds  of  water-melons,  which  are 
then  to  be  found,  and  of  which  they  are 
faid  to  be  remarkably  fond.  But  this  is 
altogether  a  vague  conjecture,  and  unwor- 
thy of  a  philofophic  mind. 

You  will  now  be  ready  to  alfc,  how  were 
thefe  eggs  to  be  hatched  ?  and  what  ufe 
could  be  made  of  the  birds  if  they  fhould 
be  hatched  ?  To  the  firft,  I  aniwer — Tencg 
ell  informed  that  there  were  certa'n 
old  bens  in  the  foreft,  who  would  readily 
perform  the  orhce  of  incubation.  To  the 
fecond — By  a  due  management  of  the  bird:;, 
and  principally  by  the  force  of  their  notes, 
■  expected  that  they  would  excite  in 
the  forefters,  and  their  children,  the  fame 
difpoiition  to.  miibhicf,  with  which  them- 

•  cs 


*26  THE     FORESTERS, 

Selves  were  pofTefTed,  and  thus  prepare  the 
way  for  a  complete  frjiernizaiijn. 

Teneg  arrived  firft  in  the  plantation  of 
Charles  Indigo  ;  where  he  placed  fome  of 
his  eggs  under  an  ©Id  lien,  and  fcattered 
the  feeds  of  a  particular  fpecies  of  grain, 
on  which  the  chickens  were  to  fubfift  till 
they  could  pick  for  themfelves.  So  prolif- 
ic was  the  brooding  warmth  of  the  old  hen, 
that  the  eggs  were  foon  hatched,  and  the 
chicks  began  their  natural  cry,  jaco,  jacc, 
jaco ;  but  were  foon  taught  the  note  ivar, 
iuar,  war.  The  effect  was  fo  furprizing, 
that  feveral  of  Mr.  Indigo's  domeftics  im- 
mediately roared  out  the  war-whoop,  equip- 
ped themfelves  in  the  habit  of  highway- 
men, and  teak  to  the  road,  with  a  view  to 
rob  any  of  Mr.  Bull's  family,  or  pluncisF 
any  of  his  waggons,  which  they  might 
chance  to  meet  m  an  unguarded  and  de*- 
ftneelefs  flate. 

Teneg  iras  fo  fiuflied  with  this  fuccefs, 
that  he  hailed  to  the  other  plantations,  dis- 
tributing 


THE     FORESTERS.         4*7 

jributing  the  egga  with  his  own  hands,  or 
fending  them  by  trufty  meffengers,  who 
were  well  acquainted  with  the  nefis  of  the 
old  hens.  A  brood  was  foon  hatched  in 
each  of  the  plantations,  who  began  their 
cackling  ;is  foon  as  they  were  out  of  the 
ihell.  Tiit:  effect,  was  not  fo  great  in  atl 
parts,  as  \i  v...-  in  Indigo's  plantation;  for 
iiiuc  excited  feveral  perfons  to 
kick  up  a  w.^-dance,  and  become  knights 
of  the  highway  -,  yet  the  number  was  far 
who  faw  through  the  artifice,  and 
combined  to  defeat  it.  Stiil,  however,  the 
noife  of  the  chickens  was  continued,  and 
the  highwaymen  became  fo  impudent,  that 

n  Mr.  Bull  heard  what  was  doing,  he 
beg:r.i  to  fwell  with  chclcr  againil  the  for- 

s.  "  Cuvfe  thefe  fellows,  (faid  he)  do 
they  intend  to  aid  the  Franks  againft  me  ? 
I'll  begin  with-  them  betimes.  The  high- 
way is  mine  ;  I'll  icize  their  waggons, 
and  ruin  their  carrying  trade  ;  and  if 
they  have  a  mind  for  another  iaw-fuit,  I 
am  their  match."  Accordingly,  as  lord 
of  the  )ut  his  huntfmen 

and 


%i%  THE     FORESTERS. 

and  hounds,  feized  feveral  of  their  wag* 
gons  and  drove  them  into  inelofures,  where 
they  might  be  fecured  till  a  court-manor 
could  be  holden  for  adjudication  upon  thenv. 

The  irtoft  confiderate  among  the  foreft- 
ers  were  greatly  incenfed,  on  account  of  the 
plots  thus  formed  againft  them.  Though 
they  refpecced  the  family  of  the  Franks, 
and  rejoiced  at  their  emancipation  from 
the  old  abfurd  fyflem  of  family  govern** 
ment,  under  which  they  had  long  groaned  ; 
though  they  made  no  fcruple  publickly  to 
own  them  as  friends  and  brethren  ;  yet 
they  could  not  approve  all  the  whims  and 
innovations,  which  had  crept  into  the  fam- 
ily ;  nor  did  they  relifh.  the  plan  of  fratei> 
nization,  as  the  Franks  intended  to  carry  it 
on.  They-  hated  the  cackling  of  the  chick- 
ens, and  wifhed  they  had  perifhed  in  the 
fhell  :  but  they  were  loth  to  quarrel  with 
the  whole  family  for  the  folly  and  vanity 
of  their  fervant ;  eipecially  as  thofe  who 
had  the  principal  hand  in  fending  him  were 
in  difgrafce^  and  another  let  had  got  the  ds* 

retlion 


THE     FORESTERS.         *sj 

rettion  of  the  houfe.  They  had  at  the 
fame  time  a  high  refentment  againft  Bull 
for  feizing  their  waggons,  but  thought  the 
bed  way  of  getting  them  back  again  was 
by  remonftrance  and  perfuafion.  In  thefe 
chcumftances,  a  consultation  was  held  by 
the  council  of  advice,  at  which  prcfided 
their  trufty  High  Steward,  GEORGE,  the 
grandfon  of  Walter  Pipeweed,  than  whom 
there  is  not,  perhaps,  a  man  who  carries 
more  wifdom  in  his  head,  more  goodnefs 
in  his  heart,  or  more  vigour  in  his  nerves. 
George  has  had  enough  of  law-fuits  *,  and 
though  he  will  fuffer  no  man  to  wrong  him 
with  impunity,  yet  he  had  rather  compro- 
mife  difficulties  than  inflame  them  by  op- 
pofition.  Therefult  of  the  confultation 
was,  that  a  letter  be  written  to  the  Franks, 
n  a  very  friendly  ftylc,  complaining  of 
:,  and  requesting  that  a  better  man 
mi^ht  be  fent  in  his  place  ;  that  a  ipecial 
meffenger  be  fent  to  Bull,  to  demand  fatif- 
faclion  for  the  damage  they  had  fuuained 
from  his  huntfnien  ;  at  the  fame  time  dis- 
claiming the  conduct  of  the  highwayman 


930         THE     FORESTERS. 

and  declaring  that  they  did  not  intend  t& 
meddle  with  the  quarrel  between  Mr.  Bull 
and  the  Franks  •,  but  to  be  in  friendfhip 
with  both,,  and  trade  with  both  as  ufual. 

No  fooner  was  this  determination  known, 
than  thofe  who  had  the  direction  of  the 
chickens,  fet  them  on  raifing  a  terrible  cry, 
of  war,  war9  war~-*jo9  ja,  ja.  This  was 
very  troublefome  and  provoking  ;  but  it 
was  thought  moft  prudent  to  bear  with 
their  impertinent  vociferation  for  a  while, 
in  hope  that  they  would  foon  quit  the 
plantations.  Tor  as  they  had  come  in  aH 
at  once,  it  was  not  known  but  that  they 
were  birds  of  paiTage,  and  might  difappear 
at  the  feafon  of  migration  ;  but  even  if 
they  fhouid  continue,  there  was  an  expec- 
tation that  means  might  be  found  to  tame 
and  filence  them,  and  perhaps  render  them 
in  fome  degree  ufeful.     . 

An  experiment  of  this  kind  was  a£tualry 
made.  A  flock  of  thefe  chickens,  under 
the  direction  of   a  mifchievous   old  heru 

once 


THE     FORESTERS.  »3i 

once  got  into  a  field  of  William  Broadbrim, 
on  the  weitern  fide  of  his  plantation,  and 
fet  up  a  cry  of  %vhijky>  vrbj/ky,  k  The 

noife  was  to  very  loud,  and  their  number 
was  fo  large,  that  it  was  feared  they  would 
devour  the  crop,  then  almoft  ripe  for  the 
fickle.  A  company  of  arci  n  I  v -.is  there- 
fore lent  out,  with  order?  to  try  the  tffeO.  of 
fome  particular  founds,  before  they  fhould 
difcharge  their  arrows.  They  crept  along, 
making  feveral  kinds  of  noife,  to  no  pur- 
pofe,  riii  they  had  got  very  near,  when  they 
fet  up  a  loud  cry  of  Ifujh,  IVafn,  Wafiy 
which  entirely  drowned  the  noife  of  tohifkyi 
-and  was  io  formidable  to  the  chicken?,  that 
they  flew  away  with  precipitation,  and  be- 
came remarkably  fiient.  They  have  not 
only  made  no  more  disturbance  in  that 
quarter,  but  fome  of  them  have  fince  been 
obferved  hovering  about  the  barn-yards, 
and  mixing  with  the  common  poultry. 

The  letter  fent  to  the  Franks  was  well 
received,  and  produced  the  defired  effect. 
Teneg    was    difqualified  and   fupcrfeded  % 

but 


22%         THE     FORESTERS. 

hut  he  did  not  think  it  proper  to  return, 
left  he  fhould  lofe  his  ears.  He  has  fince 
married  a  girl  of  the  family  of  Peter  Bull- 
frog, and  taken  up  his  abode  in  the  foreft  ; 
and,  fuch  is  the  good-natured  policy  of 
thefe  people,  that  he  is  permitted  to  refule 
among  them,  and  to  enjoy  what  he  has 
earned,  without  any  inquiry  how  he  came 
by  it ;  provided  that  he  pays  his  taxes  and 
lives  peaceably. 

The  menengcr  who  went  to  Mr.  Bull, 
was  a  long  time  in  confultation  with  his 
clerk,  before  all  matters  couid  be  adjufted 
to  mutual  fatisfaction.  The  refult,  howev- 
er, was  a  tolerable  compromiie  ;  in  which 
Bull  engaged  to  give  up  the  hunting-feats 
which  he  had  fo  long  withheld,  on  condi- 
tion that  the  whole  body  of  the  forefters 
fhould  become  bound  to  pay  the  balance  of 
an  old  account,  due  to  him  from  the.  font hern 
planters.  He  alfo  promifed  to  let  the  dif- 
fused limits  be  adjufted  by  a  committed  ; 
to  expedite  the  manor-courts.,  in  which  the 
trefpafies  fhould   be  fairly  tried  ;    and  to 


Til  I".     FO  HESTERS. 

Ftlcd;      Other  matters 
ceil  tn  di{pute  Mere  adjure-:  \ 
i'tu  one  clam  tfertedj  which  prohib- 

.  them  from  trading  .it  hie  ftigot  ware- 
house, uniefs  thev  inouid  carry  their  pro- 
duce in  waggons  of  no  larger  iize  than  a 
whcelb  urow.  This  article  was  ib  fingular 
and  ridiculous,  that  the  council  of  foreilcrs 
rejected  it.  The  other  parts  of  the  agree- 
ment met  the  approbation  of  twenty  out  of 
thirty,  which  made  the  initrument  valid, 
?nd  it  was  figned,  fealed,  puhlifhed  and 
declared  in  due  form. 

As  foon  as  this  tranfadion  was  known, 
and  even  before  the  inftrurnent  was  execu- 
ted, thofe  choice  fpirhs  whom  Teneg  had 
inicrucled,  as  aforeiaM,  in  the  ufe  of  the 
bird-call,  fet  ail  the  chickens  a  crying  jo% 
ja,  ja — treaty^  trraty,  treaty  The  found 
rang  through  the  forefl,  and  nm  reverber- 
ated from  houfe  to  houfe,  and  from  tree  to 
tree,  in  iuch  a  ferprizing  manner,  that  no 
other  noife  could,  for  a  while,  be  heard. 
Some  very  fobcr  people  were  actually  deaf- 
Q^  cned ; 


»34         THE     FORESTERS. 

cncd ;  others  were  vexed  with  the  clamour.' 
But  considering  from  what  caufe  it  pro- 
ceeded, they  determined  to  let  the  chickens 
cry  till  they  were  weary ;  and  then  calmly 
and  coolly  to  examine  the  reafons  which 
influenced  their  keepers  thus  to  fet  them  a 
cackling.  This  examination  has  been  done 
in  a  very  mafterly  manner ;  and  the  peo- 
ple in  general  are  pretty  well  fatisfied  with 
the  compromife.  They  fee,  that  though 
it  is  not  altogether  to  their  wiuhes,  yet  it  is 
the  beft  bargain  that  could  be  made.  They 
fee  that  it  has  prevented  a  long  law-fuit, 
the  ilTue  of  which  mult  have  been  uncer- 
tain ;  and  they  had  rather  enjoy  the  blef- 
fmgs  of  cultivation  and  of  fending  their  pro- 
duce to  market,  than  fpend  their  money  in 
paying  council,  attornies,  folicitors,  fcriven- 
ers  and  bailiffs  ;  of  which  kind  of  drudgery 
they  have  already  done  enough  to  make  the 
prefent  generation  fick  of  fuch  bufmefs. 

There  remained  one  effort  more,  which 
the  difciples  of  Teneg  were  determined  to 

make, 


THE     FORESTERS,         i2S 

make,  to  prevent  the  agreement  from  being 
Carried  into  effect.  It  was  neceflary  that  a 
fum  of  money  mould  be  allowed  for  travel- 
ing charges,  clerks'  fees,  and  other  incident- 
al expenies.  When  this  matter  came  :o  be 
debated  in  the  council  of  advice,  a  flock  of 
the  chickens,  who  had  been  trained  for  the 
purpofe,  flew  into  the  hall,  perched  on  the 
table  and  chairs,  and  began  to  cackle  with 
a  new  note  in  addition  to  their  former 
vociferations.  Papers,  papers,  papers.  Two 
of  them  had  the  impudence  to  alight  on 
the  moulders  of  the  High  Steward,  as  he 
fat  mufmg  in  his  elbow-chair,  and,  putting 
their  bills  into  his  ears  to  fquall  this  harm, 
note.  George  bore  it  a  while  calmly, 
and  continued  his  contemplations  ;  till,  at 
length,  with  his  deep  grum  voice,  and  with 
a  determined  air  and  manner,  he  pronounc- 
ed the  monolyllable  No,  ib  forcibly,  that 
the  cackling  ceafed,  and  the  chickens  re- 
tired to  their  managers,  for  farther  infrac- 
tion. Their  invention  was  ready,  and  fome 
pains  were  taken  to  teach  them  the  fame 
monoiY liable  Ar.;  with  the  addition  of  the 

word 


23<S         TIlS     FORRESTERS. 

word  fi'Ppty*  This  was  the  mod  difficult 
talk  which  had  yet  been  attempted  •,  and 
k  took  them  fo  long  to  le?rn  it,  that  the 
neighbours,  who ■•obferved  what*  was  =  going 
on,  had  time  to  biciv  the  horn,  to  cp.11  tha 
people  together,  and  pat  an  end  to  the  in- 
fulti  of  this  ratify  broods  At  the  found  of 
the  horn,  the  chickens  were  frightened  -9 
fome  to  fave  their  necks  from  being  wrung, 
flew  off  in  various  directions  \.  others  hid 
themfelves  and  remained  filent.  *,  till  the 
council  had  finifhed  their  deliberation,  and- 
voted  the  money.  The  only  ill  confequence 
of  this  disturbance,  was  a  little  delay  in  the 
execution  of  the  agreement,  which  all  good- 
men  had  the.  candour  to  impute  to  the  true 
caufe. 

Notwithstanding  all  the  appearance 
of  good  will  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Bull,  there 
are  many  who  think  he  ftiil  looks  with 
an  envious  eye  on  the  Forefters,  and  is 
jealous  of  their  enterprising  fpirit,  and  of 
their  extenfive  and  growing  commerce.. 
Their  agents   and  factors  are  ieen  in  all 

thofe 


THE     FORESTERS.         ft** 

thafe  wan  -houfes,  from  which  he  bail  been 
ufed  to  fetch  commodities  by  who'efah*, 
and  difpoie  of  them  by  retail  at  very  ad- 
vanced prices.  There  i-^  no  place  to  which 
they  cannot  find  as  ready-  accefs  as  himfe-lf, 
and  where  they  cannot  trade  on  equal 
terms.  It  is  not  long  fince  he  lent  a  very 
pompous  meflenger  to  old  Cang-hi,  the  tea- 
manufacturer,  with  his  compliments,  re- 
queuing that  he  might  have  foine  exc!ufi<ve 
advantages  in  trade,  at  his  ware-houfe  ;  and 
to  ingratiate  himfelf  the  better,  this  meflen- 
ger carried  a  number  of  valuable  prefents, 
which,  it  was  thought  would  be  highly  ac- 
ceptable. The  old  gentleman  received  the" 
meflenger,  and  fome  of  the  prelentb,  with 
his  ufual  politenefs  ;  but  obferving  the 
fuperciiious  air  of  the  meflenger,  he  quick- 
ly difmifled  him  with  this  fententious  re- 
ply. "  My  anceftors  have  taught  wikiom 
to  their  descendants.  Their  pictures  and 
their  maxims  are  delineated  in  this  book,- 
which  I  prefent  to  thy  mailer.  Tell  him 
there  is  no  friendfhip  in  trade.  My  doors  arc 
open  to  all  cuftomers,  and  every  man  is  wel- 
come for  his  money."  Wheh 


aj*         THE     FOKESTEH. 

When  the'  Forefters  heard  of  this  fuga- 
cious reply,  they  could  not  help  laughing 
in  their  fleeves,  at  the  mortification  which 
old  Bull  mufl  have  received  from  it. 

You  will  wifh  to  know  on  what  terms 
thefe  people  are  with  the  wild  beafts  on 
their  weftern  border.  Since  I  wrote  to 
you  concerning  them,  a  ftrong  hunting 
party  has  been  fent  out,  who  have  driven 
them  from  their  old  haunts,  and  have  erect- 
ed lodges  in  the  moft  convenient  places* 
where  future  huntfmen  may  refide.  But 
as  the  creatures  appear  to  be  lefs  formida- 
ble, and  their  ferocity  is  evidently  in  the 
wane,  it  has  been  thought  beft  to  entice 
them  to  peace,  and  admit  them  to  familiar- 
ity. The  old  practice  is  revived  of  fetting 
moiafTes  for  them  to  lick,  and  furnifhing 
them  with  collars  and  nofe-jewels.  But 
above  all,  a  line  has  been  drawn,  beyond 
which  no  perfon  is  permitted  to  make  any 
plantation.  This  precaution  is  one  of  the  bell 
which  could  be  invented,  and  it  is  hoped 
will  have  fo  good  an  efTeft,  as  to  keep  the 
neighbours  out  of  fear  of  being  devoured. 

Besides 


THE     FORESTERS.         i^ 

Besides  the  compromife  with  Bull,  the 
Forefters  have  concluded  an  agreement 
with  two  of  the  Arabian  rovers,  Muley* 
and  Haflan,f  which  ftipulates  that  they 
may  go  about  their  bufinefs  without  molef- 
tation,  on  the  payment  of  a  certain  fum 
down,  and  an  annual  acknowledgment  be- 
sides. This  is  a  cheaper  way  of  dealing 
with  fuch  old  rogues,  than  to  let  them  rob 
and  plunder  at  their  own  pleafure.  For 
they  are  the  genuine  children  of  Khmael, 
whofe  u  hand  was  again (l  every  man,  and 
every  man's  hand  againfl  him." 

An  advantageous  agreement  has  alfo 
hczn  made  between  the  Foreiters  and  Lord 
Strut,  adjufting  the  limits  of  his  foreit  and. 
theirs,  and  opening  a  road  between  them, 
which  is  to  be  free  to  both  parties.  Mr. 
Bull  has  quietly  and  honourably  given  up 
the  hunting-feats,  according  to  the  agree- 
ment, and  the  Forefters  are  in  peaceable 
poiTemon  of  them.  This  will  enable  them 
to  extend  their  plantations   and  cultivate 

their 

*  .Morocco.  t  Algiers. 


THE     FORESTERS. 

their  country  to  the  greeted  advantage. 
They  nre  continually  making  improvement 
by  bridges  and  caaals  ;  and  if  they  fhouid 
continue  at  peace  among  rhemieives,  autio* 
iluenced  by  the  ^quarrels,  nnd  untainted  by 
the  diflipation  and  folly  of  their  neighbours, 
they  will  be  as  happy  a  fet  of  people  as  any 
on  the  globe.  ^Adieu. 

TOSTSCRIPT. 

IN  one  of  my  former  Letters  I  told  you  of  a  new 
fpecics  of  rats,  which  had  appeared  in  the  foreft.  I 
6b  ferry  to  fay  that  they  net  only  remain,  but  are 
verv  numerous  and  mifchievous.  They  are  So  fly  and 
evolve,  that  they  elude  all  the  arts  of  common  rat- 
catchers ;  and  at  the  fame  time  are  fo  bold  and  impu- 
&&t  as  to  make  their  p.ppe-arance  in  open  day-light, 
iii  the  houfts,  roads  and  fields.  Not  long  fincc,  a  large 
number  of  them  were  feen  in  the  dining-room  of  Georgt 
Yrufty  ;  iirft  fitting  under  the  tabic,  and  catching  «->/e- 
ry  crumb  which  fell ;  then  leaping  on  the  table,  whilft 
the  family  were  at  dinner,  and  ihatching  the  meat  cut 
of  their  plates.  George  profeiied  great  indignation  at 
this  degree  of  impudence,  and  fwore  that  he  would 
permit  nc  fuch  thing  in  his  houfe  ;  but  fomc  people 
are  fo  uncharitable  as  to  fuppofe  this  to  be  only  a  fi- 
iieffe,  and  that  he  fecretly  favours  them,  for  fome  ec- 
cult  purpofes.  Should  this  imagination  prove  to  be 
well  founded,  it  is  thought  that  his  name  will  be 
changed  ;  and  that  inftead  of  being  called  Tr-.jly,  he 
will  have  a  name  as  long  as  thofe  uied  in  Oliver  Crura- 
well's  time,  Verier  Jtr.s-wn  dan  triced. 


H4 


